New Australia PM Tony Abbott gets to grips with his new job

Australia's Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott has told reporters that he would spend his first day at work "getting briefings from senior public servants" and starting to work on ''building a better future for a great country.''

He began his first day after the election with an early morning bicycle ride near his Forestville home in north eastern Sydney.

"It was great to start the day with a ride with the people I've been riding with for years," he said, before being driven to his office.