Former foreign minister Julie Bishop has kept her future options open by choosing to remain in federal Parliament, while sending a veiled message about the glass ceiling facing ambitious women who seek to rise to the top of the Liberal Party.

Announcing she will stay on as the MP for the Western Australian seat of Curtin after ending her 11 years as deputy leader and being eliminated early in last week's leadership spill, Ms Bishop expressed optimism about her future but said it was "far too early" to contemplate what senior roles she would consider.

And as Prime Minister Scott Morrison faces a major test over how to proceed with the Paris climate agreement, Ms Bishop noted the Coalition party room under former prime minister Tony Abbott unanimously endorsed the 26 per cent emissions reduction target and declared that other nations must be able to rely on Australia's commitments.

Asked on Tuesday whether the Liberal Party would ever elect a popular woman as leader, Ms Bishop said: "Well, when we find one, I'm sure they will."