Bishop opens up on gender targets, 'vicious' environment

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop has spoken openly about the problems she sees in federal politics in her first televised interview since the Liberal leadership challenge. Image: Julie Banks, Ann Sudmalis and Julia Bishop sitting together in parliament (AAP)

Bishop has addressed what she calls a "vicious" environment in parliamentary question time and the need for gender targets to achieve greater female representation.

But, in response, some MPs are criticising her for her own behaviour, saying she is only making the comments now out of spite.