Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop has revealed she voted for Malcolm Turnbull to remain in the top Liberal job.
The Liberal party room on Tuesday chose Tony Abbott to be its new parliamentary leader, with Mr Turnbull missing out by 42 votes to 41.
Ms Bishop, who continues as deputy leader after Mr Abbott said he would like her to remain in the position, later revealed she had thrown her support behind Mr Turnbull.
"It's because I have a view ... that the deputy should be loyal to the leader," she told Sky News.
"I have done that on both occasions when I have served as deputy to leaders of the Liberal Party."
She said she supported the party room's decision to defer a Senate vote on Labor's emissions trading scheme (ETS) and, failing that, to vote it down.
"My position has always been that we should not be forced into voting on this legislation before the Copenhagen (climate change) conference ... (or) before we know what the United States in doing," she said.
Ms Bishop admitted this was at odds with Mr Turnbull's position.
"I argued my case to people ... when the shadow cabinet took a (different) position, I accepted it.
"That is part of being a member of the shadow cabinet."
Ms Bishop warned it would be tough for Australia to make the transition to a low-emission economy.
She called for a climate change policy that was energy efficient and included support for alternative energy sources and emissions targets that would not cost jobs or make the country internationally uncompetitive.
Ms Bishop was optimistic the party could resurrect itself.
"I think it's been a bruising, battering, difficult week for the Liberal Party, the likes of which nobody has ever seen before.
"It's been played out in public; it's been very raw for a lot of people.
"Now there is a realisation that we must unite as a team, and we must focus all our passion and fury and energy and talents against the Labor government."
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