Neferti Admin
Posts : 2534 Join date : 2018-07-15
| Subject: Re: Julie Bishop Mon 27 Aug 2018, 4:23 pm | |
| - Quote :
- Bishop addresses WhatsApp rumours
Julie Bishop has spoken out about the tumultuous spill week, saying it was “personally devastating” for a number of people.
Speaking to The West Australian, the former Foreign Minister acknowledged she was aware of claims that MPs had used an online messaging app to make her supporters back Scott Morrison over her.
“You would have to ask the individuals involved but it appeared to be a tactic to promote Peter Dutton into the prime ministership, whatever the cost,” she said.
Over the weekend, a leaked WhatsApp message thread revealed why Ms Bishop lost out on the top job.
The messages between senior Liberal MPs, broadcast on ABC’s Insiders, claimed some politicians were voting for Ms Bishop in the party room ballot as part of a “ruse” to install Mr Dutton, and others politicians were encouraged not to vote for her even if they wanted to.
Leaked screenshots from the group titled “friends for stability” allege Mathias Cormann, whose support of Mr Dutton was pivotal in enabling the leadership spill, had secured votes for Ms Bishop in order to keep Mr Morrison out of the race.
But the conversation between Morrison supporters shows politicians were encouraged to vote for Mr Morrison over Ms Bishop in the first round.
“Cormann rumoured to be putting some WA votes behind Julie Bishop in round 1,” a message purporting to be from Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher broadcast on Insiders read.
“Be aware that this is a ruse trying to get her ahead of Morrison so he drops out and his votes to Dutton.
“Despite our hearts tugging us to Julie we need to vote with our heads for Scott in round one.”
But in a statement to news.com.au, Senator Cormann said he did no such thing.
“This is 100% incorrect,” he said in his response.
Participants in the thread expressed some concern for the former foreign minister, with one suggesting “Someone should tell Julie”.
A message apparently sent by Christopher Pyne read: “I have.”
“Very respectfully,” he added.
Ms Bishop was knocked out in the first round of voting in what was a three-way battle for the leadership between her, Mr Morrison and Mr Dutton.
She received only 11 votes in the first round, including from ousted prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. None of the votes came from West Australians.
But polls consistently showed Ms Bishop was the most popular Liberal member with the general public.
A News Corp Australia reader poll showed she was overwhelmingly the preferred leader of the Liberal Party, with 38 per cent of votes. Mr Turnbull was a distant second at 28 per cent.
Likewise, a snap Roy Morgan poll conducted last week gave her a 28-point lead over Opposition leader Bill Shorten.
But evidently, none of that was enough. WhatsApp. LOL If Pollies don't think other Pollies are "taking behind their backs" they are sillier than they look. It is so much easier these days with everybody and their dog with an iPhone, etc. | |
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Neferti Admin
Posts : 2534 Join date : 2018-07-15
| Subject: Julie Bishop Sun 26 Aug 2018, 2:32 pm | |
| Julie Bishop resigns as minister for foreign affairs, but will stay on as an MP
Former deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop has quit her job as minister for foreign affairs but says she will stay on as an MP.
In a statement, Ms Bishop said she had advised Prime Minister Scott Morrison of her decision.
"I will remain on the backbench as a strong voice for Western Australia," she said.
"I have been pre-selected by the Liberal Party for the seat of Curtin and I have made no decision regarding the next election."
Ms Bishop's decision comes after she was knocked out in the first round of the three-way Liberal leadership contest which installed Mr Morrison as PM.
Up until Friday's leadership spill she had been deputy leader of the Liberal Party for more than a decade, having taken on the position in the aftermath of the Howard Government's election defeat in November 2007.
Ms Bishop had served as foreign affairs minister since the Liberals regained government under Tony Abbott in September 2013.
As foreign minister, Ms Bishop was tasked with how to deal with an expansive China.
Australia has largely avoided the trade wars and angry rhetoric exchanged between the US and China, despite periods of mixed messages between the nations over the South China Sea and Beijing's influence in the Pacific.
Ms Bishop also campaigned in the United Nations to get access to the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 crash site after the shocking downing of the plane over rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine in July 2014.
After a joint investigation into the incident concluded the Russian military was behind the missile attack, she demanded the suspects be extradited to the Netherlands to face trial.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-26/julie-bishop-quits-cabinet/10166300 | |
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