Labor questions Bishop for letting partner sit with her at UN

Foreign minister Julie Bishop has been criticised by Labor for allowing her partner David Panton to sit alongside her in the official Australian section in the UN General Assembly.

Labor's junior spokesman for foreign affairs Matt Thistlethwaite questioned whether the invitation showed Ms Bishop was not treating her job seriously enough, Fairfax reports.

"This is an important week at the UN and it's critical the government treats it with the seriousness it deserves," he said.

"It's up to the Foreign Minister to explain if this is appropriate."

Mr Thistlethwaite said if there was a legitimate reason for Mr Panton's presence at the Australia desk, it needed to be clarified.

But a spokeswoman for Ms Bishop said the foreign minister was allowed to invite guests to sit with her.

"The Foreign Minister has discretion as to who is invited to General Assembly sessions and has in the past invited constituents and friends to sit with her."

The spokeswoman added that Mr Panton was not part of the official travelling party for Ms Bishop and paid for his own flights to the US.

Ms Bishop is due to address a leader-level meeting on terrorism after midnight on Wednesday (AEST).