Julie Bishop quits politics after two decades in Parliament

FORMER foreign minister Julie Bishop has announced she is quitting politics altogether after nearly two decades in Parliament.

Bishop made the shock announcement after question time in the House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon.

She said she will not be re-contesting the seat of Curtin and said she would help a new Liberal candidate to win her seat.

“It is time for a new member to take my place,” she said.

“I will leave the seat of Curtin in very good shape, indeed, a winning position for the Liberal Party.

“When I first contested the seat in 1998, I won the election with a primary vote of 44.6 per cent. At the last election, my seventh election, my primary vote was 65.6 per cent.

“I am also proud of the fact that I am the first woman to contest the leadership of the Liberal Party in its 75 year history.”

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Bishop has held onto the Perth seat of Curtin since 1998 and says she has been contacted by a number of people interested in taking her place.

The 62-year-old said she is “confident” Scott Morrison will win the next election.

“During the last two weeks it has become evident that Labor has learned nothing from its past failings, and is doomed to repeat these failings should it be re-elected,” she said.

“It is thus my view that the Liberal National Coalition will win the next election.”

“I will not re-contest the seat of Curtin at the next election. And I will work hard in the meantime to assist a new Liberal candidate to win the seat. It is time for a new member to take my place” – @JulieBishopMP announces she will quit politics. https://t.co/mfpDdqblAs #auspol pic.twitter.com/pAtwz57Phh

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) February 21, 2019

Prime Minister Scott Morrison praised Ms Bishop’s “tremendous service” to the country, her community and the Liberal Party, and called her “an incredibly classy individual”.

“Julie Bishop is a giant of the Liberal Party and she has been a ground breaker for women in public life,” he said.

Julie has been a good friend. I have valued her judgement, appreciated her insight and admired the tireless way she has served the Party, the Parliament, and Australia.”

“On behalf of the Government and the Liberal Party, I thank Julie for her great service to Australia for nearly two decades.”

Thank you @JulieBishopMP for your 20+ years service to Australia, as a MP and Minister, and to the Liberal Party. You’ve been a star of the @LiberalAus team and we wish you all the best. pic.twitter.com/nWsgpJEfbU

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) February 21, 2019