Tony Abbott didn’t want women in his senior ministry, former deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop claims

Former foreign minister recalls ferocious' discussion with Abbott about having only one woman in 20-member cabinet

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Julie Bishop - the only woman in Tony Abbott's 2013 federal cabinet - believes the then prime minister really wanted an all-male senior ministry and only included her because her elected position as deputy leader meant he could not avoid it.

The former foreign minister remains convinced that Abbott's preference was to have no women at all.

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