MELBOURNE, Australia
Two years ago Julie Bishop became Australia’s first female foreign minister, having been the first woman appointed as her party’s deputy leader in 2007.
Now the 58-year-old has recorded another first – a media interview conducted solely through the use of emoticons.
Bishop, who has been suggested as a replacement for beleaguered Prime Minister Tony Abbott, conducted the interview with the Buzzfeed news website purely through the use of the computerized graphics, known as emoji, 9News reported Monday.
Buzzfeed texted Bishop questions about fellow Liberal Party politicians, foreign affairs and her favorite animal, 9News said, and she replied using just emoticons.
Bishop is known to favor the use of emoticons, often using them in official ministerial tweets.
Asked to describe Prime Minister Tony Abbott she replied with the image of a running man.
The same question about Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull elicited an image of a mobile phone while Russian President Vladimir Putin garnered an angry red face.
Asked about Australia's relationship with the U.S., Bishop gave a thumbs-up, a tick and a grinning face.
When quizzed about Indonesia, which is due to execute two Australian drug smugglers later this month, Bishop posted a thumbs-up and tick but with a sad face.
Her answer to a question on her prime ministerial ambitions produced a response to keep observers guessing – a blank, straight-mouthed emoji.
