Mumbrella360: ‘Minister for fashion? You bet I am’ – Julie Bishop takes over main stage

Opening the Mumbrella360 main stage on Thursday morning, former foreign minister Julie Bishop reflected on her uphill battle to be taken seriously as both a female politician and style icon.

A name that is as synonymous with fashion as it is with politics, Bishop recalls being referred to as the minister for fashion by her critics: “As if that were a negative,” she said. 

Since her appointment in 2013, Bishop has used her platform as foreign minister to promote Australian fashion internationally – a risky move, but to acclaim.