Bishop hands out ‘amazing’ gifts to tearful staff

FORMER foreign minister Julie Bishop made no secret of her love for designer labels, glittering brooches, and expensive earrings.

But last week she revealed her generous side, handing out to her ministerial staff thousands of dollars worth of luxurious gifts she had accumulated from around the world.

As her teary team began packing up their desks follow- ing Ms Bishop’s unsuccessful bid for the leadership, the former deputy leader cracked open the cupboards in her ministerial office and handed out accessories, jewels and trinkets from her travels.

“She certainly lifted the mood, giving us all these amazing things that she had collected from around the globe,” one staffer said.

The Sunday Territorian un- derstands one of Ms Bishop’s loyal employees received a luxury-brand hat from a trip to North America, while another was given a gift from the The White House.

Under Parliamentary rules all MPs must declare “gifts valued at more than $300” on their register of interests. Ms Bishop’s list is extensive. It includes running shoes from Japan, a handcrafted silver box from India and a Swiss watch from the head of Switzerland’s Department of Foreign Affairs.

In 2014 Ms Bishop also received a Vicuna wool scarf from the President of Peru and a framed Bird of Paradise from PNG's Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato.

Sadly her staff missed out on four live pigs gifted from the Papua New Guinean government in 2015.