Climate change undoubtedly lost the former prime minister his political career.
Colleagues say the former Liberal Party leader could be to blame if the Coalition is forced into minority government.
The new independent MP for Warringah says the Coalition has been given a clear mandate to govern,and endorsed Tanya Plibersek as a"fantastic"candidate to take over from Bill Shorten.
Early in the night all the exit polls seemed to indicate a thumping Labor win,but those who remembered the 2016 US presidential election urged caution.
The defeat was emphatic,and yet the mood in Tony Abbott's election do was triumphant.
There was an enormous swing against the former PM,putting him in an unwinnable position against independent rival Zali Steggall.
Even after losing his seat,Tony Abbott refused to acknowledge that he's out of touch with Australia.
Members of the new crossbench could be kingmakers in the next Parliament but are not united in their demands on the next government.
In predicting a result in Warringah,there is the data and then there is the mood,which seems strongly anti-Abbott.
The hotly contested electorate,where former prime minister Tony Abbott is facing off against independent Zali Steggall,has seen a race that has turned increasingly bitter.
This weekend's election could go down to the wire,with some prominent figures at risk of losing their seat. These electorates could shape the outcome.