Attorney-General George Brandis says new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gives the coalition the best prospects of winning the next election.
Senator Brandis said his judgment was Mr Turnbull brought a boundless confidence and optimism to the leadership.
"The thing about Malcolm Turnbull, he is a person with a very bold and optimistic sense of Australia's future that I think will resonate very well with the Australian people," he told ABC television.
Senator Brandis said he voted for Mr Turnbull in the leadership ballot.
Like most senior colleagues, he said he was becoming increasingly concerned that the party's position was becoming irretrievable under Tony Abbott's leadership.
"We were at real risk of losing next year's election to Bill Shorten," he said.
"That would be a catastrophe for Australia and it was a very difficult decision for all of us who've served with Mr Abbott and respect him and like him a very great deal."
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