Australia's new Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne has admitted she has received a few "where's Julie?" questions since arriving at the United Nations in New York.
Julie Bishop was a familiar face at the UN during her five years as foreign minister, but after the recent leadership spill in Canberra she stepped down and former defence minister Ms Payne took up the role as Australia's top diplomat.
Ms Payne is leading the Australian delegation at this week's annual UN General Assembly attended by 130 world leaders including US President Donald Trump.
Ms Payne said she explained to other delegations that political turmoil in Canberra was a "fact off life".
"Indeed," Ms Payne told reporters on Monday when asked if other delegations had asked where Ms Bishop was.
"Well, happily I'm a less familiar, but nevertheless familiar face having spent three years as Australia's defence minister.
"A lot of people with whom I worked with over that time are here in various roles this week and I have had the chance to renew some of those relationships and hopefully reinforce to them we have a consistency of approach, a consistency of foreign policy and I'm getting on with the job."
Ms Payne had bilateral meetings with UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday.
She described the Chinese meeting as "very productive and constructive", but declined to go into specifics, describing it as confidential.
"Without going into the details I think I reinforced the strength we both bring to the table as proud sovereign nations who will always pursue our own interests and protect our national interests, but nevertheless absolutely have the capability to work together constructively and I think that was a message well received," Ms Payne said.
