The new federal coalition government has revoked a job given to former Labor premier Steve Bracks, sparking claims of pettiness and partisanship just three days after the election.
Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott again met with senior advisers in Canberra on Tuesday to work on his frontbench line-up and receive departmental briefings, ahead of his swearing in next week.
But the day was dominated by the decision to revoke the appointment by the previous Labor government in May of Mr Bracks as Australia's consul-general in New York.
Mr Bracks, a former Victorian premier and businessman, was due to start in the post this week.
"This decision is both petty and vindictive," outgoing senior Labor minister Tanya Plibersek said.
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"The first act of an Abbott government is to play party politics in international affairs."
When Labor won government in 2007 it allowed former Liberal minister Amanda Vanstone to complete her consular posting to Italy.
Labor also appointed former Liberal leader Brendan Nelson as ambassador to the European Union and NATO, and former deputy prime minister and Nationals MP Tim Fischer as ambassador to the Vatican.
Liberal Senator George Brandis, who's likely to be the next attorney-general, said Labor didn't consult with the coalition about Mr Bracks' appointment.
"Mr Bracks' credentials for the New York post - a former state premier - were not obvious to us," he said.
The government wasn't under any obligation to consult on the appointment because it wasn't in caretaker mode in May when it was announced.
Meanwhile, the Labor caucus will meet in Canberra on Friday to discuss who will replace Kevin Rudd as parliamentary leader.
No MP has publicly put up their hand, but former ministers Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese are considered the frontrunners.
The Right faction has endorsed Mr Shorten and the Left is encouraging Mr Albanese.
Under changes to ALP rules, the parliamentary leader is chosen by a ballot weighted 50 per cent caucus members and 50 per cent grassroots members of the party.
So if there are two nominations on Friday, the new ballot process will more than likely go ahead over several weeks and Mr Albanese could have the popular edge among members.
But if there's only one nominee, he or she is expected to be endorsed on the day.
There's a "phenomenal groundswell of grassroots support" for Mr Albanese, a Labor Left source told AAP.
One of the new leader's first tasks will be to confirm whether or not Labor would in opposition reject attempts by Mr Abbott to scrap the old government's carbon pricing regime.
Mr Abbott again on Tuesday warned Labor and the Senate, where the Australian Greens now hold the balance of power, not to stand in the way of his election "mandate" to ditch the carbon tax.
"I would certainly expect the new parliament to respect the mandate that the new government has won," he told Seven Network.
From July 1 next year the Senate crossbench could have as many as 18 members, forcing Mr Abbott to negotiate with such parties as Palmer United Party and the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party.
Caucus on Friday will also discuss Labor's election campaign as some continue to call for Mr Rudd to leave parliament altogether.
As counting continued after Saturday's election, the coalition was ahead in 89 seats to Labor's 56.
