Liberal Senator Zed Seselja said Mr Coe brought more experience than "just about anyone that's gone before him" and was the natural successor to Mr Hanson. Few opposition leaders served more than a term and it there was a need to "refresh", he said.

"I've got a lot of time for Jeremy and he did a lot of good, but obviously parties are always looking to the future."

Senator Seselja said too much was made of Mr Coe's conservative views playing awkwardly in a left-leaning electorate.

"The idea that that's at the heart of people's judgment going into an election I reject," he said, pointing to the strong result in 2012 under his leadership.

A federal office holder with the Young Liberals, Josh Manuatu, welcomed Mr Coe as leader, saying he would do "an outstanding job", combining policy strength and "political robustness".

Canberra Business Chamber chairman Glenn Keys welcomed a clear decision and the election of a woman as deputy.

"It's important to have a strong opposition, regardless of who's in power. It's important for our democracy to have someone in opposition that can provide a counterbalance," he said.

The decision on light rail had been made and the Liberals should "now frame their policy for Canberra that will have light rail and they need to work out what the rest of the vision for the city will look like", he said. "There are so many other critical issues. The debate about this city should not be about light rail, it should be about our economic growth and development."

The chamber's tourism advisory council head, David Marshall, hoped Mr Coe would bring a focus to tourism.

"I think Alistair adds another dimension to the leadership," he said. "We'll be very keen to talk to him about his position on tourism, how he see the development of the Australia Forum, the revitalisation of the city, City to the Lake, a Floriade permanent site and the promotion of international flights into Canberra," he said.

"Jeremy's focus was entirely on health and education and stopping the tram, so we haven't heard really from Alistair on those other issues."

Master Builders Association deputy executive director Michael Hopkins said the group had been pleased to see a focus from Labor and Liberal on affordable housing, and now wanted action.

Director of the ACT Council of Social Service Susan Helyar said the community sector valued Ms Lawder's "deep community expertise".

She also welcomed the "broader agenda" the Liberals had brought to the election on affordable housing and community services, and hoped Ms Lawder's role signalled a continuing focus on such issues.

Labor Leader Andrew Barr said Mr Coe's election was "a further lurch to the right" for the Liberals and it was "passing strange" to elevate the person who had led opposition to light rail.