The Australian Women's Register

Before entering Federal Parliament Bronwyn Bishop was a Solicitor and Company Director. She was elected to the Senate for NSW in 1987 and resigned on 24 February 1994. In March 1994, Bishop contested the seat of Mackellar at a by-election called upon the resignation of the Hon. J.J. Carlton, and was elected to the House of Representatives. She was re-elected in 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2013, but did not contest the 2016 election, losing pre-selection as the Liberal candidate to Jason Falinski.

Bishop was Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel from 11 March 1996 to 21 October 1998, and Minister for Aged Care from October 1998 to October 2001. She held a number of shadow portfolios over her long career and was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2013 on the election of the Abbott government. She resigned her position in August 2015 after controversy over her travel expenses and returned to the backbench.

Bishop was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2020 for distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, to the people of New South Wales, and to women in politics.