The incident occurred late on Monday night after Mr Turnbull left the Blue Room in Parliament's Ministerial wing having delivered his first media conference as Prime Minister designate.

"He said, 'Malcolm, Malcolm, Malcolm,' and then Malcolm turned around and he yelled 'you're a c---'."

Malcolm Turnbull was accompanied by his deputy Julie Bishop (pictured) and wife Lucy, having just delivered his first press conference as Prime Minister, when he had the insult hurled at him. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Multiple sources have told Fairfax Media of Mr Dowdy's reaction to Mr Turnbull's successful wresting back of the top job nearly six years later.

The newly minted prime minister was being accompanied by his wife Lucy and Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop. Mr Dowdy was said to be in the cabinet anteroom when he approached the passing Prime Minister to dispatch the insult.

Mr Turnbull was said to be unperturbed by the encounter. Fairfax Media has made attempts to contact Mr Dowdy. Mr Dowdy worked for Mr Abbott as an advancer, scouting locations for media events and making preparations for public appearances.

Mr Abbott's staff have spent this week clearing out their offices following Monday night's leadership change. But this appears to be taking place too slowly for some who want the new Prime Minister settled into his appropriate office by now.

And a new internal mailing system has been established out of the office of junior minister Simon Birmingham because Mr Abbott's office has failed to hand over the distribution list to the new Prime Minister's team.

The system called "Coalition FYI" is operated out of the Prime Minister's office and includes all Coalition MPs, senators and their staff.