Foreign Minister Julie Bishop remains firm that she never planned to attend this year's Portsea Polo. An unworn Hugo Boss outfit suggests otherwise.
Fairfax Media can reveal the global fashion house had reportedly agreed to dress the foreign minister, who was set to be one of the star attractions at the annual society event on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
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Julie Bishop dragged into expenses scandal
A department of finance report shows that the Foreign Minister claimed almost $3000 to attend a marquee at the Portsea Polo event. Vision courtesy ABC News 24
Instead, Ms Bishop was a late no-show, citing the visit to Australia by Japan's Prime Minister as the reason for her absence.
Ms Bishop had been scheduled to attend as a guest of naming sponsor Alfa Romeo but in the wake of the government expenses scandal, including the fact she billed taxpayers to attend last year's event, she opted not to attend.
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According to sources, her office notified organisers on Friday night to inform them she would not be attending, citing the visit of Shinzo Abe as the reason.
Ms Bishop's decision not to attend the Portsea Polo came just hours after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that Health Minister Sussan Ley had resigned from the front bench in the wake of travel entitlements scandal.
On Saturday morning, her office said she had never been a confirmed guest at the polo and had always planned to be in Sydney for Mr Abe's visit.
"The foreign minister is in Sydney attending a number of official events in relation to the visit of Prime Minister Abe and the Japanese delegation," a spokeswoman said.
However several sources told Fairfax Media her attendance had been all but assured earlier in the week.
One of the key public relations companies involved with organising the Portsea Polo guest list confirmed that Ms Bishop was expected to attend.
"Earlier in the week it had been her intention to attend the event," they told Fairfax Media. "She was attending as a guest of one of the key sponsors."
Sources close to the event said that, as of Tuesday night, they were under the strong impression Ms Bishop was due to make an appearance.
That designer label Hugo Boss had been scheduled to dress Ms Bishop for the event also suggested her intention to attend.
At the polo on Saturday, few guests seem to notice Ms Bishop's absence.
Comedian and radio host Mick Molloy said he remembered seeing Ms Bishop at last year's event.
"I saw Julie Bishop here at the polo last year in a golf cart and I suggested to her at the time, 'Is that a government car and are you putting this on the [taxpayers]?'
"It's a good time for politicians because none of us are on air," he said.
The organiser of the Portsea Polo, TLA Worldwide, did not comment on Ms Bishop's non-appearance.
Ms Bishop attended last year with her partner, David Panton, as a guest of Peroni.
With Adam Gartrell