Victoria's Liberals will meet in the coming days to dissect their historic state election loss and elect new leadership.
The coalition became the state's first single-term government in almost 60 years when outgoing premier Denis Napthine conceded defeat and resigned as party leader on Saturday.
Louise Asher followed up with her resignation as deputy leader on Sunday.
Outgoing attorney-general Robert Clark says the party needs to recognise that the reality and perception of politics are two different things.
"We need to look at how we can communicate and articulate what we stand for and tell the community the reasons for our policies and what we're achieving on their behalf," he told reporters at Parliament House on Sunday.
"And that, I expect, is going to be one of the things we as a team will be looking at very closely - how do we convey how messages, how do we explain to the community the reality of what we know as a government that we've been doing to make it a reality for the community as well."
Mr Clark said federal issues been a distraction during the campaign.
"Clearly the commonwealth budget and its aftermath were a distraction that did make it more difficult for us as a coalition to get our messages across," he said.
He paid tribute to Dr Napthine, who has led the party since the resignation of Ted Baillieu.
"In 18 months or so he has provided great leadership to our team and great leadership to the government of Victoria," he said.
"He leaves, the coalition leaves, Victoria in much stronger and better shape than when we came to office."
Going into opposition, Mr Clark said the party was strong, appearing not to have lost a single minister.
"We are determined to take on board the lessons of yesterday's election, to regroup, to put together a leadership team and to provide a very strong and effective opposition over the next four years," he said.
Victoria voted for change, Abbott says
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has congratulated Labor's Daniel Andrews on his Victorian election victory, saying it's clear voters wanted a change of government.
Mr Andrews has consigned the Napthine coalition government to the dustbin as the first one-term government in Victoria since 1955, with some state Liberals blaming the Abbott government's unpopularity for the result.
In a brief statement, the prime minister congratulated the Victorian Labor leader.
"Whilst a significant proportion of the vote remains to be counted, it is clear that Victorians have voted for a change of government," he said.
Mr Abbott also paid tribute to dumped premier Denis Napthine as a man of integrity and decency.
"He has served Victoria as a member of parliament, as a minister in the Kennett government, as leader of the opposition, as a minister in the Baillieu government and as premier," Mr Abbott said.
"Denis Napthine's public service has left Victoria a better place and I thank him."
