Julie Bishop tells cabinet meeting she's not angling for leadership
Julie Bishop holds discussions with Tony Abbott during a parliamentary sitting on September 2. (AAP Image/Alan Porritt) (AAP Image/Alan Porritt)
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has told Tony Abbott she won't challenge for the Liberal leadership.
Ms Bishop told a cabinet meeting in Canberra on Tuesday she had not been campaigning for the prime minister's job or ringing backbenchers to canvass support, Fairfax Media and Sky News reported.
Treasurer Joe Hockey, who briefly exited the meeting to hold a media conference about the interest rate cut, appeared to back up the reports.
"I have no doubt at all that Julie Bishop is absolutely 100 per cent supportive of the prime minister," he said.
Sky News reported Ms Bishop had issued a brief statement.
"I am not campaigning for the job of prime minister," she said in the statement.
"I am not ringing the backbench asking for support. I am not counting any numbers.
"I will not challenge the leader."
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