When the Labor leadership changed hands from Kevin Rudd to Julia Gillard in June 2010, the federal Coalition had plenty to say about it on social media, but senior Liberals may now be finding that some of their scathing comments could apply equally to the leadership scrap embroiling them now.

One of the key campaign memes used by the Liberal Party in the lead-up to the 2013 elections and after the Coalition victory was the focus on stability and grown-up government.

Now: Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop and Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Parliament. Credit:Andrew Meares

An indulgent focus on a party's own leadership, changing leaders because of panicked pollsters or disgruntled MPs with petty grievances: none of these were for the Liberal Party when it was in opposition.

But the worm has since turned.