Fed: Turnbull backs Bishop

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2009
Fed: Turnbull backs Bishop

CANBERRA, Feb 14 AAP - Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has expressed confidence
in his deputy and treasury spokeswoman Julie Bishop, declaring she's doing a great job.

That follows a newspaper report saying fellow Liberals are unhappy with her performance
and want her to stand aside.

Finance spokesman Joe Hockey or Infrastructure and Emissions Trading spokesman Andrew
Robb are tipped as possible replacements.

Mr Turnbull, touring fire devastated areas of Victoria on Saturday, stood by his deputy.

"Julie Bishop has my total confidence both as the deputy leader and shadow treasurer,"

he told reporters.

"She is doing a great job as shadow treasurer and she is taking the fight up to Labor
and exposing Wayne Swan and Kevin Rudd for their Gough Whitlam-like exercise in taking
Australia deeper and deeper into debt."

Liberal Party sources told The Sydney Morning Herald there was an almost unanimous
view that Ms Bishop, who has struggled in the role from the start, should step aside before
Budget Day on May 12.

According to sources, if Ms Bishop resists moving aside to another senior portfolio
she will face a spill for the deputy leadership.

"She must do it in the best interests of the party," one told the Herald.

"She will be hurt, but there will be the utmost respect for her if she does that. People
like her and she's good value."

AAP mb/goc/apm

KEYWORD: BISHOP UPDATE

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