Federal election 2025: Julie Bishop missing from campaign trail as fight for Curtin goes down to the wire

Julie Bishop’s absence from the campaign trail in Curtin has sparked questions, but Liberals insist she has been silenced by diplomatic rules and would back the party’s bid to win back her old seat if she could.

Liberal candidate Tom White told The West Australian she has given him advice ahead of Saturday’s vote.

“Julie was a model local member and someone I’m pleased to have been able to learn from,” he said.

“Her clear advice has been that a successful campaign in Curtin needs to be one with a very local focus and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

The former Foreign Minister’s office this week confirmed Ms Bishop has returned to Myanmar, where she has been appointed a special envoy by the United Nations, as the military-ruled nation deals with the aftermath of a deadly earthquake.

Recent photos on social media show she has also recently spent time in Morocco’s capital Rabat, after returning to Perth for “Easter with friends” at Cottesloe Beach.

Labor Minister Madeleine King this week invoked Ms Bishop’s name, when asked why WA only has one representative in Anthony Albanese’s cabinet.

“I’m doing my work. You know, sure I don’t have the same glorious fashion sense as Julie Bishop, she’s magnificent,” Ms King said on Tuesday.

“She was a great representative for Western Australia, worked really hard as Foreign Minister. But of course the Liberals rejected Julie Bishop and then they lost Mathias Cormann as well and I don’t know where the rest of them are.”

A Liberal source said Ms Bishop’s UN role prevented her from political engagement in Australia, but she did recently warn against the potential of a hung Parliament when asked.

“Some are of the school that it leads to better Government, because every single piece of policy and legislation is scrutinised and negotiated,” she told ABC Mornings.

“But I’m of the school that says it ends up with compromises, lowest common denominator compromises that’s not always in the best interests of the country.”

Mr White is locked in a bitter and tight battle with teal-independent Kate Chaney over the western suburbs seat that was a Liberal stronghold until 2022.

Ms Chaney won by less than 3000 votes, with both sides expecting preferences could decide the result on Saturday.

“Not a single vote has been counted, so no one should get ahead of themselves, but the mood at the pre-poll booths has been tremendously encouraging,” Mr White said on Thursday.

“We are hoping that momentum carries us through to Saturday night.”

Former Prime Minister John Howard has endorsed Mr White, joining him on the campaign trail in Perth two weeks ago.

“If you want a change of government, there is nothing to be gained by parking your vote in the middle,” he said in a letter distributed in Curtin.

“I know Tom White . . . he is a real local, has many community connections and understands the needs of small business.”

Ms Chaney this week seized on a preference deal between the Liberal party and One Nation in Curtin, telling her follows on social media that Mr Howard would never have agreed to it.

“John Howard always put One Nation last, but under Peter Dutton the Liberals are putting One Nation second in 139 seats,” she said.

“They also seem to be trying to hide it, by only listing names and not the parties on their how-to-vote cards.

“I’ll never do a preference deal with Pauline Hanson.”