Bishop sends warning over cabinet leaks
Fri, 24 November 2017 4:40AM
Camera IconJulie Bishop says a strong message needs to be sent to whoever is leaking details from cabinet.
Julie Bishop has sternly reminded her federal government colleagues that leaking details of cabinet meetings is a "serious criminal offence".
The deputy Liberal leader on Thursday night denied she was the source of the leaks suggesting divisions within the cabinet over calls for a banking royal commission, which Malcolm Turnbull opposes.
"Leaking from cabinet is a serious criminal offence," the foreign minister told ABC's 7.30 program.
"I've been in public office for 19 years and a cabinet minister for many years. I'm well aware of the consequences of leaks out of cabinet."
Ms Bishop backed a formal investigation into the leaks, noting other governments had done so in the past, but said a final decision was up to the prime minister.
"Clearly, a strong message has to be sent to whoever thinks it's being helpful to leak cabinet material that it's not," she said.
"It's unacceptable."
Her colleague Christopher Pyne would be happy to see an investigation, but warned they don't often go anywhere.
"People who do this kind of thing usually cover their tracks pretty well," he told the Nine Network on Friday, refusing to discuss the matter further.
Asked if the leaks were undermining the government, Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said the individual ambition of any cabinet minister was nothing compared to the coalition's collective ambition to keep Labor leader Bill Shorten out of the Lodge.
"We are a team and the team does much better when everyone is kicking in the same direction," he told Nine Network.
The leaks came after the most recent Newspoll put Ms Bishop well ahead of Mr Turnbull as preferred Liberal leader at 40 per cent to 27 per cent.
The coalition has trailed Labor in two-party terms for 23 consecutive Newspolls.
Ms Bishop said Mr Turnbull was showing "extraordinary leadership" in the face of a number of challenges, including issues around dual citizenship.
She denied a lack of unity within the government, despite Nationals senator Barry O'Sullivan openly defying the prime minister by circulating draft laws to set up an inquiry into the banks.
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