Former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop has defended her new job since leaving parliament, saying she remains compliant with the ministerial standards for former ministers.
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![Former foreign minister Julie Bishop announced she was re-entering the corporate world in July. Picture: Trevor Collens Former foreign minister Julie Bishop announced she was re-entering the corporate world in July. Picture: Trevor Collens](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/fdcx/doc76102nnbndlsrlvy3xi.jpg/r0_0_5760_3840_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry into the enforcement of ministerial standards, Ms Bishop wrote that she had resigned as minister for foreign affairs on August 26, 2018 and never attended a Cabinet meeting of the Morrison government.
Ms Bishop pointed out that a new budget had been handed down on April 2.
While the letter from the former Liberal deputy leader didn't explicitly refer to her role as a board member at Palladium, which has won government contracts delivering development and aid projects, it said "my personal conduct since retiring from the cabinet and the parliament meets the requirement to be consistent with the dignity, reputation and integrity of the parliament".
Ms Bishop said she had given an undertaking she wouldn't take personal advantage of information she had access to as a minister and wouldn't seek to lobby ministers on any matters for which she held ministerial responsibility.
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She suggested the ministerial standards be amended to place responsibility on current officials to ensure they don't hold meetings with former ministers for the 18 month period after they held that office.
"Current ministers and government officials are subject to ongoing scrutiny through the parliament, including Question Time and Senate estimates, and by the media," she said.
"There is obvious redress available with regard to current serving ministers and officials, should they breach this protocol."
Palladium's chief executive Christopher Hirst has also responded to the inquiry, but in contrast to the detailed timeline provided by consulting firm EY of its engagement of former defence minister Christopher Pyne, no light was shed on Ms Bishop's role.
"We strongly endorse the requirement for former ministers of state to adhere to all obligations concerning post-ministerial employment," Mr Hirst said in a letter of just three sentences.