Julie Bishop has insisted she is 'fine' following her break-up with longtime partner David Panton during an awkward live TV interview

Julie Bishop’s lover of eight years David Panton has a new girlfriend, a magazine report claimed. 

Mr Panton, a property developer and co-founder of medical technology company Pantonic Health, is now ‘in a relationship with a woman from the northern beaches’, New Idea magazine reported on Thursday. 

Mr Panton reportedly dumped Ms Bishop, the country’s former foreign minister, over dinner in Sydney just weeks ago.

Julie Bishop has insisted she is 'fine' following her break-up with longtime partner David Panton during an awkward live TV interview

Julie Bishop has insisted she is ‘fine’ following her break-up with longtime partner David Panton during an awkward live TV interview

‘I’m going to be focused on living in Manly and Melbourne for the foreseeable future,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald on July 6. 

‘I wish Julie all the best in her ongoing stellar career.’ 

Daily Mail Australia approached Mr Panton for comment. 

Ms Bishop, the country’s former foreign minister, told the Today Show last week she was coping ‘fine’ with the collapse of the relationship.

During their partnership, Ms Bishop took Mr Panton to the United Nations to meet world leaders, Buckingham Palace to hobnob with British royalty and to the White House, where he met Donald and Melania Trump. 

The pair had been together just last month at St James's Palace in London, having dinner with Prince Charles for an event honouring his charity

The pair had been together just last month at St James’s Palace in London, having dinner with Prince Charles for an event honouring his charity

The couple were together for eight years before they split earlier this month

The couple were together for eight years before they split earlier this month

The pair first stepped out publicly in 2014, and were pictured at countless events over the years including the 2018 wedding of Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough. 

They had appeared to be going strong when they recently visited St James’ Palace in London for an event honouring Prince Charles’ charity. 

Ms Bishop was understood to have been ‘blindsided’ by the sudden breakdown of her relationship, sources close to the former politician said.

Daily Mail Australia understands she had been finding more ways to be in Sydney with Mr Panton and had been excited to travel to London with him in late June.

Ms Bishop emerged for the first time since the split smiling happily for photos at a Perth mining conference on July 11, although insiders said she was hurting in the wake of the bust-up and was shocked at the way he’d pulled the pin so suddenly. 

Mr Panton is seen here with Bishop on a diplomatic working holiday during Donald Trump's presidency

Mr Panton is seen here with Bishop on a diplomatic working holiday during Donald Trump’s presidency 

Ms Bishop caused a stir in 2015 when she took Mr Panton to  sitting of the UN General Assembly in New York

Ms Bishop caused a stir in 2015 when she took Mr Panton to  sitting of the UN General Assembly in New York

‘She legitimately saw a long future for the two of them and worked hard at the relationship,’ said a political insider close to the ex deputy-PM.

‘As far as everyone else, obviously aside from David, was concerned they seemed fine.’

Another source close to Ms Bishop was slightly less diplomatic about the sudden end to the affair, hinting that Mr Panton’s presence in her inner circle ‘divided’ some of her friends and colleagues.

But ‘JBish’ as she was referred to in Canberra, remained smitten. 

‘Let’s just say a there are a few who might be relieved that it’s over,’ said one, adding: ‘His personality didn’t always gel with everyone.’

Mr Panton, 61, met Ms Bishop, 65, while she was in the midst of her political career, serving as Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The pair maintained a long-distance relationship for years, with Ms Bishop based in Perth while he lived in Sydney.

In 2019, Ms Bishop told the SMH how she fell for the property developer and their bond over their love of health and fitness.

‘That’s self-evident – have you seen him?’ she laughed.

Mr Panton, 61, met Ms Bishop, 65, while she was the midst of her political career, serving as Australia's Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr Panton, 61, met Ms Bishop, 65, while she was the midst of her political career, serving as Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs

‘He’s a swimmer, I’m a runner.’

‘He’s a very independent-minded and successful businessman, and he has a delightful sense of humour. He makes me laugh.’

Mr Panton was often by her side as she travelled the world as the foreign minister, and the relationship remained strong despite being separated for seven months during Covid.

Ms Bishop also explained why the pair had not decided to relocate to each other’s respective cities.

‘[David and I] meet constantly, travel together and travel overseas to keep it fresh,’ she said in the interview.

Mr Panton and Ms Bishop shared a passion for health and fitness

Mr Panton and Ms Bishop shared a passion for health and fitness

‘Long-distance relationships can be a lot of fun.’

Ms Bishop was previously married to Neil Gillon from 1983 to 1988.

She was later dating former Lord Mayor of Perth Peter Nattrass for at least 12 years.

Mr Panton is the director for Pantonic Health, which was a major provider of Covid rapid antigen tests.

He runs the company alongside his daughters Sally and Laura.

The business supplied tests for Darwin’s Howard Springs quarantine facility, Twiggy Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group and Commonwealth Bank.

INSIDE JULIE BISHOP AND DAVID PANTON’S RELATIONSHIP  

November, 2014: Julie Bishop and David Panton are pictured publicly for the first time at the 2014 Melbourne Cup

December, 2018: The pair attend Karl Stefanovic’s wedding to Jasmine Yarbrough in Mexico

November, 2019: Ms Bishop gives a rare insight into her relationship and why she fell for the property developer

‘He’s a very independent-minded and successful businessman, and he has a delightful sense of humour. He makes me laugh,’ she told the Sydney Morning Herald

September 2020: Ms Bishop talks of the struggles of their long distance relationship during Covid, with her living in Perth and Mr Panton in Sydney

The pair were separated for seven months

‘The first place I will go is to Sydney to see David,’ Ms Bishop told The Daily Telegraph about borders reopening.

‘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.’

July 2022: Pair attend St James’s Palace in London last week for an event honouring Prince Charles’ charity

The news breaks six days later she and Mr Panton have split 

 

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