Julie Bishop to resign as Australia's foreign minister, will quit Parliament in next election
Julie Bishop will not serve in Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's revamped cabinet and will quit Parliament at the next election in bombshell decision that leaves the coveted foreign affairs ministry up for grabs.
Fairfax Media understands the 62-year-old Liberal Party heavyweight will make the announcement shortly, drawing her 20-year career in federal politics to a close.
Steve Ciobo, who supported Peter Dutton in last week's leadership implosion, has been discussed as a possible contender for the foreign affairs portfolio, as has Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, a Malcolm Turnbull loyalist.
Bishop will not follow Turnbull in resigning immediately from Parliament, but will not contest the next election, which is due next year.
Julie Bishop, seen with former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, is drawing her 20-year career in federal politics to a close.
Last week's Liberal Party leadership brawl ended the popular West Australian's 11-year run as deputy Liberal leader, and removed her guaranteed right to remain Foreign Minister in Mr Morrison's impending ministerial reshuffle, which will be unveiled on Sunday afternoon.
Bishop contested the ballot in a three-cornered contest against Morrison and Peter Dutton on Friday. She was knocked out in the first round with just 11 votes out of the 85-member party room. In the final round, the majority of her supporters locked in behind Morrison, securing him the prime ministership.
On Sunday, Education Minister Simon Birmingham called Ms Bishop "the most significant woman in the history of the Liberal Party". Turnbull described his longtime friend as Australia's finest foreign minister.
Some supporters believe Bishop should be a candidate to replace Sir Peter Cosgrove as Governor-General when his five-year term expires in March next year. They point to her public popularity, her background as a lawyer, and working relationship with federal Labor figures.
