Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop.

And first he has to get used to the idea he suddenly has become the nation’s leader.

“This is a turn of events I did not anticipate,” he said this morning on his way to Parliament House after a night of drama and a leadership battle with Tony Abbott that saw Mr Turnbull emerge the victor by 54 votes to 44.

The incoming PM must today negotiate his party room which will include unhappy conservatives and supporters of Mr Abbott such as Cory Bernardi who has described Mr Turnbull’s elevation as “an indictment of politics in this country”.

Mr Turnbull, already the target of a new Labor attack ad, will have to help manage the departure of his predecessor, who has not yet spoken in public and was angered about his loss, according to one minister. Another said he was “calm” and “very hurt”.

Tony Abbott walks though Parliament House last night after he was dramatically ousted in a snap party vote. AFP PHOTOSource:AFP

Mr Abbott must formally resign as Prime Minister and indicate whether he will stay in Parliament, and whether he is interested in a ministry.

Mr Turnbull also faces the prospect of a menacing presence on the back bench, with unhappy former ministers sitting around Mr Abbott.

After being sworn in by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, Mr Turnbull will consult colleagues on a new front bench to be announced next week. It is expected to see more women in senior positions alongside Deputy Liberal Leader and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

“What we must do is move on and convince the Australian people there is stability in its Government, that we can turn things around,” Ms Bishop told the Nine Network.

The woman who told Mr Abbott he was going to be removed said, “I’m not enjoying this.”

Scott Morrison is expected to replace Joe Hockey as Treasurer, while Defence Minister Kevin Andrews — who ran against Ms Bishop for the Deputy Leadership — has made clear he wants to keep his job.

As well as surviving a taunting Labor Opposition at Question Time, Mr Turnbull will also have to renegotiate the Coalition agreement with the Nationals. There is no chance the Nationals will quit government, but at midnight last night, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce made clear Mr Turnbull had to work on the relationship.

Barnaby Joyce says Malcolm Turnbull has a lot of work to do.Source:News Corp Australia

“Without a Coalition government you don’t have a government,” he said. And he cautioned against thinking he would not disrupt the change if he thought regional Australia was not getting a fair deal.

“Don’t ever, ever doubt what my belief structure is and what I’m prepared to do,” said Mr Joyce, who has rejected shadow cabinet positions and crossed the floor on critical votes.

“It’s not about personalities. It’s about values. It’s about what we want to deliver to regional people.

“It’s about making sure that people, especially in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Tony Abbott, are properly dealt with.”

Assistant Education Minister Simon Birmingham, a Turnbull backer and a minister expected to be given a more-senior position, today said the new PM would consult more widely than Mr Abbott.

And he defended the move against a sitting first-term leader by is own party.

“Our system of government, our Westminster system of government is one were there are two checks on political leadership — the check of elections and the check of the party room,” Senator Birmingham told ABC radio.

“Of course we’ve seen that check of the party room exercised.

“What Australians care about is the type of government they will have now and into the future.”