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Bishop remains silent on Tony Abbott claims

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has closed the book on her part in Tony Abbott’s demise, saying all parties have “different recollections” of the lead-up to the failed leadership spill in February.

On Tuesday night, she refused to be drawn further on Mr Abbott’s claims she lied in a recent comment about the events earlier this year.

“Well there are obviously different recollections across a whole range of issues,” Ms Bishop told Channel Ten’s The Project.

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“People bring their different perspectives and different recollections to it and I have nothing further to add.”

The former PM said Ms Bishop had not told him about a conversation between then Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and frontbencher Scott Morrison in February.

“The claim that Julie Bishop made on Channel Nine that she told me about the conversation between Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison that she witnessed is false,” he said.

The BoM rejected assertions it was altering climate records.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott accused Julie Bishop of lying. Photo: Getty

Earlier, it was revealed Ms Bishop was with Mr Turnbull in February when he reportedly phoned Mr Morrison and offered to make him Treasurer in a future Turnbull government.

“Of course, of course [I told Mr Abbott],” Ms Bishop told Channel Nine on Tuesday.

Mr Morrison has not denied the phone call took place but has denied he was offered the job.

“I certainly was not aware of white-anting,” Ms Bishop added, “although I’m sure that the former prime minister has a number of concerns about what went on in those last six months of his time as prime minister.”

Fairfax Media has reported Ms Bishop is said to have suggested Marise Payne and Sussan Ley be appointed to Mr Abbott’s first cabinet, but met resistance from his then chief-of-staff Peta Credlin.

Ms Bishop was the only woman appointed to cabinet in September 2013.

“The suggestion that Julie Bishop lobbied me to get Marise Payne and Sussan Ley into cabinet in September 2013 is false. The suggestion that Peta Credlin opposed that is also false,” Mr Abbott said.

Mr Abbott also hit back at Ms Bishop’s claim that cabinet stood by him during February’s failed spill motion, which saw 39 members of the Liberal partyroom vote to remove Mr Abbott despite there being no challenger.

Mr Abbott replied: “Julie Bishop’s claim that the cabinet was solidly behind me was rendered ridiculous by the leaking that so obviously took place.”

Canada PM has attractive policies

Meanwhile, Ms Bishop’s appearance on The Project wasn’t all be about weighty political and foreign affairs matters.

Asked where she ranked Canada’s “dreamy” new prime minister Justin Trudeau – on a scale of George Bush at the lower end and George Clooney at the upper end – she replied: “I think Prime Minister Trudeau has very attractive policies.”

-with AAP

 

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