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Bishop gambit: Will ‘the cockroach’ survive again?

Paul Colgan

by Paul Colgan

08 Sep 04:11pm

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Filed under: Andrew Robb, Julie Bishop, Liberal Party, Politics, Tony Abbott

51 comments

Update 7.30pm: Andrew Robb has now said he will not challenge Julie Bishop for the deputy leader’s position tomorrow. More here.

The Australian is reporting that Julie Bishop’s position as deputy leader of the Liberal Party may be under threat. Andrew Robb has confirmed this afternoon he has been approached by colleagues urging him to challenge her at tomorrow’s partyroom meeting.

But is this wise? Putting aside the obvious observations about how Julia Gillard came to lead the Labor party, the political reality now is she has been returned to office. With all the machismo that already surrounds Tony Abbott’s leadership style, installing another tough guy like Robb as his second-in-command as they take the fight to the Prime Minister is not without its risks.

Having survived as deputy leader through the ousting of Brendan Nelson and Malcolm Turnbull, and continuing in the role with Tony Abbott, Bishop has earned a disparaging nickname among some Liberal MPs. She’s known as “the cockroach” because she’d survive anything.

During last year’s Liberal leadership spill it was reported she had a blazing row with Malcolm Turnbull because she had publicly pledged her support - but then he told colleagues he had glimpsed Bishop writing Abbott’s name on the ballot paper during the vote. (The full story is here.)

Bishop is regarded by many to have underperformed in her role has shadow foreign affairs minister. In May Labor claimed she was unfit to serve in the portfolio after saying she believed Australian intelligence agents used fake passports but later retracted the statement.

Removing her from the post of deputy would pave the way for a significant reorganisation of the Coalition front bench and possible promotions for people like the Marise Pyne and the formidable Sophie Mirabella.

And it might also allow for a smoother return of Malcolm Turnbull to the shadow cabinet, something which Tony Abbott has said he plans to effect. The elevation of Robb and a demotion of Bishop could put the finance and foreign affairs portfolios in play, and Turnbull would be in the running for both.

There will be arguments about meritocracy and the irrelevance of gender balance but I suspect for many casual observers it mightn’t be a great look to be taking out your most senior female frontbencher when Julia Gillard has just led the Labor Party back into power.

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51 comments

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    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      05:10pm | 08/09/10

      Someone has to be the sacrificial lamb. If it isn’t Tony Abbott, then it has to be Julie Bishop. Thems the breaks when you lose an election…..

      Reply

    • Steve says:

      06:25pm | 08/09/10

      let the cannibalism begin… here’s Malcolm…and who would have thought the difference between a principled and unscrupulous man was one vote and a treacherous mate?

    • Wayne Fehlhaber says:

      08:49pm | 08/09/10

      Hmmmm , speaking of sacrificial lambs , seems Stephen Smith is going to be Labor’s patsy to make way for the former failed Prime Minister.
      Ah well , that sure will suit Rudd . The 747/07 will be able to trip around on the international scene to his heart’s content.

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      05:37am | 09/09/10

      She can stay Deputy but get her out of that portfolio. Perhaps give it to Turnbull; after all, the Libs seem to consider Foreign Affairs to be the appropriate place for toppled leaders and both Peacock and Downer did quite well.

      One thing the Libs do need is someone who can actually attack the Government on broadband. After all, it is going to be a massive white elephant and the screams will come long and loud when people realise that they have to pay for the internal cabling on their properties before they can use it. Also, Gillard has been bleating about 1000Mbps. Most Taswegians are actually on 25Mbps (about the same as a good ADSL2+ connection) because that’s all they can afford. Sooner or later, people will question why we are shelling out tens of billions for something they then cannot afford to use.

      Unfortunately, the Libs have never had anyone who could make a fist of the IT and Communications portfolio. Richard Alston personally set Australian IT back 20 years as he was a complete luddite who thought modern technology’s greatest triumph was the free plasma TV on the wall of his office.

      Howard, like Abbott, failed to give technology the attention he gave other rmatters, thinking it unimportant . Krudd was the first PM to realise that a third of all voters have never known a time without computers and they wanted action.

      Abbott needs to find a shadow Communications & IT Minister who actually understands the issues, not one can’t even repeat what the departmental advisors say without stuffing up.

    • dale says:

      03:40pm | 09/09/10

      Poeple will only have to pay for every connection in there house besides the initial one… this is no different from the current way of things

    • Andrew says:

      05:12pm | 08/09/10

      I think replacing Julie Bishop with Andrew Robb would be a mistake. He clearly is quite competent and has a lot to offer to the party but his media skills aren’t amazing and any press conference or interview he gives can be quite a dull affair to watch meaning the message doesn’t always get through.

      Julie Bishop on the other hand may not be as competent as Robb on policy detail, costings etc however she is quite a strong media performer and is very effective at attacking the Labor Party and defending Tony Abbott and Liberal Party policy in the media. If she is replaced as deputy I think it needs to be by someone who is a strong media performer.

      Reply

    • Louisa says:

      05:39pm | 08/09/10

      I agree Andrew - whilst Robb is a very intelligent and decent man with many skills - media is not one of them. One gets bored listening to him and therefore the message is lost.

      Wayne is another example of someone who should not be Deputy….. the main reason being is he just plain dumb.

    • Rosie says:

      05:46pm | 08/09/10

      I agree Andrew, I struggle listening to Andrew Robb and getting what exactly he is trying to say.

      Like you say if Julia Bishop is to be replaced it needs to be someone who with good media skills and a clear voice. I like Sophia Mirabella!

    • xyz says:

      05:13pm | 08/09/10

      Tony Abbott will do whatever it takes to bring the Gillard government down asap - and he doesn’t care about anyone, including Julie Bishop… so much for supporting a stable government… that’s the last thing Abbott wants!

      Reply

    • Wayne Fehlhaber says:

      07:51pm | 08/09/10

      xyz :  Abbott brought down former P.M. Rudd and came within an ace of defeating the failed Rudd/Gillard government . As for this cobbled together bunch of misfits being a stable government , you have to be kidding.
      Look what we have :  the remnants of the former failed govt. , the lunatic left Green party with a death tax policy and little else , held together by two former National Party renegades.  Stable government ? I don’t think so. !

    • xyz says:

      11:58am | 09/09/10

      Wayne, Wayne, Wayne… you have a big case of sour grapes!

      This morning’s news has interest rates low, the market up, and low unemployment figures… we currently have an economy that is the envy of the world… how on earth can that be the result of a “failed’ Rudd/Gillard government…. open your eyes and stop believing Abbott’s negative lies?

    • Ned says:

      05:13pm | 08/09/10

      The cracks are showing already in the ‘Govenment in waiting” and that’s why it will be waiting for a lot longer. Marise Payne in an Abbott shadow cabinet? She must have had a Road to Damascus conversion and made a very sharp turn to the right. She’s long been the Liberal furthest to the left and can’t see her functioning in the midst of the right-wing reactionaries that Abbot leads. On the other hand, Sophie Mirabella would be right at home.

      Reply

    • archie says:

      05:23pm | 08/09/10

      The Death Stare Queen is a Western Australian. We just re-elected her as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and no-one except us has the right to dis-elect her! Do this at your peril, Liberal Party.

      Queensland isn’t the only state with favourites.

      Reply

    • Faz says:

      06:40pm | 08/09/10

      Good point Archie. How can the Party who made much hay out of condeming Labor for knifing the ‘elected’ PM then go and knife the elected Bishop?

      Mind you, a finance minister with the surname ‘Robb’ has a certain electoral charm to it.

      BTW ‘Bishop gambit’ is a real shocker Paul. I like it a lot.

    • farkurnell says:

      09:37pm | 08/09/10

      I’d say Deputy leader of the opposition is hers for life. Joolz i’ll cover whoever they put in as leader

    • Lee from WA says:

      05:34pm | 08/09/10

      I think that Julie Bishop, despite her geographical roots, should go. I think she can be very hit and miss. I think she should be in Cabinet but Andrew Robb and Sophie Mirabella would do a much better role in some of the more high profile Shadow Cabinet positions.

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      05:41pm | 08/09/10

      I have no paticular feelings for Julie Bishop one way or the other (although if she did support Abbott over Turnbull last year, that’s a plus for her in my book). But I can’t see any legitimate reason for them to challenge her.
      The Coalition needs to stay strong and not descend into petty leadership squabbles. Surely they know this. They won’t get rid of Tony for the phenomenal job he’s done, but it’s still not a good look getting rid of Bishop….

      Reply

    • Against the Man says:

      05:41pm | 08/09/10

      I want to know what Shorten/Arbib are tonight and what they are planning next.

      Reply

    • Wednesday Punch says:

      05:50pm | 08/09/10

      I’m with you AtM. I want to know when Bill and Mark will climb into the ring with Sunshine Bob. Then we’ll see some rainbow colours, but perhaps with a ruby red hue.

    • Marg says:

      07:27pm | 08/09/10

      Maybe they have struck a deal with KRudd….hahaha Or better still “Lame Duck”.

    • farkurnell says:

      08:39pm | 08/09/10

      you won’t be able to find them, the’re faceless

    • Michael says:

      05:47pm | 08/09/10

      Wow, the Liberals got to the knife collection ahead of Labor for once.

      Although I suspect the real reason for the sudden outbreak of the Et Tu’s will be as displayed in the above video: you cannot show you have either a sense of humour in the Liberal Party without it costing you your position.

      Reply

    • nosthow says:

      05:49pm | 08/09/10

      The “Stare Queen” Ms Julie Bishop must be for the chop - what an embarressment to any party seeking to appeal to the Australian public. She swears allegiance to anyone who bobs up as Leader then proceeds to deliver zot in parliament, somethimes having trouble reading out her assigned 2 line question in QT. Time to go Julie old girl - even Tones The Loser deserves a better 2IC than you !

      Reply

    • Marg says:

      07:29pm | 08/09/10

      You really should learn to spell !!!!!

    • nosthow says:

      07:48pm | 08/09/10

      @Marg - haahahh - bit testy there Marg - things not working out as planned. Rip the top off a bottle of Grey Goose and swiggo.

    • Marg says:

      07:31pm | 08/09/10

      You naughty girl, you stole that from me and yes Julie has really got the look down pat.

    • Nicole says:

      08:03pm | 08/09/10

      Sh!t!! Now I have to behave. Me mum’s here. And don’t be to hard on nosthow. He’s got a hangover.

    • Nicole says:

      08:08pm | 08/09/10

      Badger, that wins hands down. Hahahaha

    • Marg says:

      08:12pm | 08/09/10

      And I don’t drink..hmmm maybe it’s a good idea though.
      Just watched the one from The Badger; looks just like her..

    • Trish says:

      05:56pm | 08/09/10

      The moment I realised Biship’s death stare was waiting to be replayed in this article was almost as scary as watching it through my fingers the first time around!

      Reply

    • Super D says:

      06:10pm | 08/09/10

      Actually it’s not a bad idea.  A deposed deputy no longer gets to choose their portfolio while an incoming deputy does.  This could provide an opportunity to not only shift Bishop out of Foreign affairs but more importantly to shift Hocky out of the Shadow Treasurer position - which, much as I like the shrekster, is actually far more pressing.  He’s out of his depth in Treasury - Turnbull would be ideal though it would probably go to his head so Robb is the logical choice for the role.

      Reply

    • Farkurnell says:

      09:31pm | 08/09/10

      like shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic.Next time Joolz by 20

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      06:10pm | 08/09/10

      ummm wasn’t it the Liberal party ranting on about the blood bath post election that was going to happen in the ALP, what a giggle…. out comes the knives. She has already been through three leaders.

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      06:49pm | 08/09/10

      I see.

      You call the mandatory leadership spill they have after each election a “day of the knives”.

      I love it lol

    • TC says:

      09:07pm | 08/09/10

      Note Rob that the public are aware of a potential challenge to a leadership position before it actually occurs.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      09:31am | 09/09/10

      TC says:09:07pm; Note TC we knew Kev was going to be toppled the night before it actually occured   ;  )  and that is why Liberal minister are calling it a brain snap on Robb part eh’ nice and friendly does it!

      MarK; any excuse will do eh’ I’m loving it too ;  )

    • TimB says:

      11:51am | 09/09/10

      Actually Rob some of us saw it coming a couple of weeks before it occurred. As I recall, you guys were in severe denial about it at the time too. (Paticularly Nosthow:) - *waves hi*)

      Does anybody remember “5 Reasons why Rudd will lead Labor to the next election?” I do, it’s good for a chuckle.

      That being said I’m going to reiterate what I said in an earlier thread: I don’t see Gillard being knifed by her own side, not whilst the independents can withdraw their support due to “instability” at anytime.  Labor isn’t *that* stupid.

    • MarK says:

      06:15pm | 08/09/10

      Replace her with Turnbull then we can haz real intrigue on both sides of the house.

      This parliament needs moar drama noa goddamit

      Reply

    • Drew(Darlinghurst) says:

      06:20pm | 08/09/10

      All I have to say to those Conservative hacks is…..Enjoy Opposition ...Again.

      Lets celebrate the LABOR MINORITY GOVT.

      A victory for Progressive Politics !

      Cheers,
                From progressive Darlinghurst.

      Reply

    • Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

      05:39pm | 09/09/10

      Enjoy it whilst you can, because if it lasts till Christmas I’ll be surprised

    • Lisa H. says:

      06:23pm | 08/09/10

      Erm, isn’t the Labor party going to be mixing it up as well in this new governing ‘situation’?
      The ‘Liberal instability’ issue seems a little over-egged.

      The ALP is expert in pointing out the speck in the Opposition’s eye, to distract from the plank in their own. 
      The hoo-ha over Coalition treasury costings being another case in point.

      The ALP loves a dirty game, it was a characteristic that really struck me during my student union days.

      Reply

    • bruce says:

      06:27pm | 08/09/10

      I have never understood how Julie Bishop could be a “loyal” deputy to the last 3 opposition leaders!

      Reply

    • Happy little labourite says:

      06:29pm | 08/09/10

      So the infighting has already started. If Robb knifes Julie, he then has his pick of potfolio. MMMM I guess he’ll pick treasury so Hockey will be out. Not a bad effort 2 colleagues with one thrust of the knife.

      Reply

    • Fleeced says:

      06:30pm | 08/09/10

      Under Liberal party rules, the deputy chooses their portfolio. Mostly, they choose treasury - but this might cause too much fighting if Robb did this, so he’d probably want to stay with Finance.  In fact, even with a deputy change, there’s no need for a re-shuffle at all - though I agree some changes are likely.

      I’m not really a Turnbull fan, but he’s a strong performer. Where they really need him isn’t Finance, but Communications. Sophie Mirabella is an asset, but I’m not sure where to put her

      Reply

    • Nicole says:

      06:38pm | 08/09/10

      Andrew Robb has now withdrawn his bid! Bad luck lefties.

      Reply

    • nosthow says:

      07:53pm | 08/09/10

      @Nicole - only because no-one wanted him either Nicole - being 2IC to Tones The Loser is hardly an excellent career choice is it ? Maybe Bronnie Bishop should put her hand up huh ? Nosthow always likes to help the Libs.

    • Sven Gali says:

      08:12pm | 08/09/10

      That is the best news since yesterday’s result, Nicole. They should keep Bishop on for as long as possible, as she’s never done anything to enhance the Coalition’s prospects. In all of the leadership discussions about Nelson, Costello, Turnbull, Abbott and Hockey, has her name ever been suggested, by anyone ?

    • farkurnell says:

      07:31pm | 08/09/10

      Ah Julie -the perfect bridesmaid ,unfortunately the bride was left at the alter by the Oz electorate. But seriously, another glorious defeat from Tony ,snatched from the jaws of victory, to rival,John Hewsons and the mother of all defeats Peter Debenen’s,which left us with the worst govt in NSW history.

      Reply

    • Gender Render says:

      08:59am | 09/09/10

      The pitbull needs a filly by his side to balance the genders.  Andrew Robb didn’t stand a chance.

      Reply
 
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