Abbott speaks out over 'death by opinion poll'UN cancels Australia visit
New York: The Australian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York appears to be receiving a different welcome than it might have had Tony Abbott still been in office. 
Doors that were recently firmly closed have mysteriously swung open.
It is understood that senior diplomats, including United States ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, have expressed enthusiasm at the prospect of working with a government led by Malcolm Turnbull, who forced Mr Abbott from office earlier this month, and who was unable to attend the Assembly.
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has received a last minute invitation to attend a Sunday lunch being hosted by  United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the leaders of about 20 nations to discuss climate change.
China's President Xi Jinping will be in attendance but Mr Abbott, who was to have been attending the General Assembly until the leadership ballot, had not been invited. Ms Bishop will be the only guest at the ministerial level.
Ms Bishop has also been able to reaffirm a commitment Australia had made to bid to join in the United Nations Human Rights Council, a subsidiary body to the General Assembly responsible for advancing human rights.
The decision to seek membership of the council had been made under Julia Gillard leadership of the previous government and supported by many of those nations that had backed Australia's membership of the UN Security Council.
After the Coalition won government Ms Bishop had continued diplomatic efforts to secure a place on the council but had later been ordered by Mr Abbott to abandon the bid, an about face that might have caused Australia diplomatic embarrassment.
Ms Bishop was yet to carry out the instruction when Mr Turnbull deposed Mr Abbott.
Despite the welcome the Australian delegation heads into the meetings with Abbott-era policies mostly in place.
On Friday  in New York the Pope addressed the General Assembly, exhorting world leaders and diplomats to do more to address climate change and to ensure economic energy was tempered by social justice.
"It must never be forgotten that political and economic activity is only effective when it is understood as a prudential activity, guided by a perennial concept of justice and constantly conscious of the fact that, above and beyond our plans and programs, we are dealing with real men and women who live, struggle and suffer, and are often forced to live in great poverty, deprived of all rights," he said.
Speaking after the address Ms Bishop said she would respond that economic growth was responsible for shifting millions of people out of extreme poverty.
And she said she believed that Australia was "already doing its part" on climate change.
"What we are looking for is a global agreement on climate change and on emissions reduction.
"Australia has put forward, credible, responsible, achievable targets and we look forward to other countries doing the same."