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Julie Bishop's heartache due to coronavirus border restrictions

Like many other Australians, former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has revealed the heartache of being separated from her partner due to coronavirus border restrictions between WA and NSW.

The 64-year-old has been stuck in Perth for the past six months, while hr partner David Panton has been in Sydney.

Like many other Australians, former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has revealed the heartache of being separated from her partner due to coronavirus border restrictions between WA and NSW. Photo: Getty
Like many other Australians, former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has revealed the heartache of being separated from her partner due to coronavirus border restrictions between WA and NSW. Photo: Getty

"The first place I will go is to Sydney to see David," Ms Bishop told The Daily Telegraph.

"We FaceTime. It isn’t great but it is all you can do because he can’t get in here (WA) and I can’t go there without having to get an exemption. It is very difficult but I know a lot of families have been separated in this way, it is challenging."

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While she spent much of her career travelling, especially while she was Foreign Minister, Ms Bishop doesn't miss working in politics.

She said that while it was a great honour to represent Australia as a member of parliament and as Foreign Minister, she is "loving" life in the private sector.

Ms Bishop said it's "very difficult" being separated from her partner like many other Aussies. Photo: Getty
Ms Bishop said it's "very difficult" being separated from her partner like many other Aussies. Photo: Getty

Ms Bishop moved on from politics and is now working as Chancellor of the Australian National University.

She is also working to raise funds and awareness for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

With two of Ms Bishop's sisters being treated for ovarian cysts when they were younger and the fact the disease kills so many people, it was an easy decision for her to get involved with the Foundation.

"Ovarian cancer does not respect status, wealth or age or family circumstances and can strike any woman at any time and so I think there needs to be a greater effort to find better treatments along the road to a cure and that is most certainly why I think we need an early detection test," she said.

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