After the Coalition lost the 2007 election , Bishop was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party . She was the first woman to hold the position , and was re-elected to the post at multiple leadership spills following her initial election . During her time as deputy , there were three different Liberal leaders — Brendan Nelson , Malcolm Turnbull , and Tony Abbott . When the Coalition returned to power at the 2013 election , Bishop was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Abbott Government . She was Australia 's first female foreign minister . Issues that arose during her tenure included changes to the Australian foreign aid program , the international military intervention against ISIL , the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 , and the execution of Australian citizens by Indonesia
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Julie Bishop