Julie Bishop resigns

I pay tribute to Julie Bishop for her trailblazing role as the first Australian woman to be Minister for Foreign Affairs.

For five years she has dedicated her life to our nation with a tireless work ethic and exhausting travel schedule.

While Labor has at times been critical of the foreign policy directions under Prime Ministers Abbott and Turnbull, Ms Bishop’s commitment to standing up for Australia both here and abroad has never been in question.

In particular I have deeply appreciated her commitment to bipartisanship, and her personal courtesy to me.

I wish Julie and her partner David all the best in whatever opportunities open up for them in this next phase of their lives.