Taxpayers fork out $4.5m for Liberal spill

The political knifing of Malcolm Turnbull cost taxpayers more than $4.5 million in severance payouts.

Almost $1.9 million went into the pockets of 35 staff who worked for the former prime minister, while 12 staff who worked for former foreign minister Julie Bishop received a total $562,062.39.

Answers given to the Senate revealed the cost of the brutal leadership spill in August, which saw Mr Turnbull quit politics and Ms Bishop go to the backbench after her own failed bid to replace him.