The groups urged the government to work towards stability following the ballot in which 31 members of Labor caucus voted to install Kevin Rudd to the top job as Prime Minister Julia Gillard considers a cabinet reshuffle.

One Rudd supporter was Resource and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson.

Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Mitch Hooke told ABC's AM that Ferguson had a good working relationship with the minerals industry.

"He has a very effective working relationship with the industry that was clearly evidenced in the way he and Don Argus, the former chairman of BHP Billiton, chaired the working group, the policy transition group for working through all the details of the minerals resource rent tax," Hooke said.

"He was an architect of the group in working through what we had always sought, that was an effective platform for consultation with the industry and working through what we had hoped to be tax reform.

"Now we haven't got tax reform, we've got a top-up tax, but we've taken out a lot of the adversity that was inherent in the super profits tax.

"Minister Ferguson has been a critical bridge in rebuilding confidence between the industry and the government and particularly the first part of that bridge was engagement and listening - and doing that effectively and efficiently."

Atlas Iron executive chairman David Flanagan said during a teleconference this morning: "Martin does occasionally contribute useful information and … occasionally does things that make sense, so we could do worse than having Martin Ferguson as the resources minister."

Business Council of Australia president Tony Shepherd said the ballot should be a catalyst for a more focused government and a renewed commitment to make Australia more competitive and productive.

"We cannot afford to be complacent or diverted from doing what needs to be done to build the strength of our economy for the long term," he said.



"Without stability, we cannot get on with important policy reform.

"We need stability to provide confidence our economy is being well managed, and we need stability to maintain Australia's international reputation as a reliable and predictable place to invest and do business."

The comments came as assistant treasurer, sports minister and Labor senator Mark Arbib resigned from parliament and former foreign affairs minister Rudd moves to the back bench.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard released a statement saying Arbib's resignation would be received with a heavy heart by Labor Party members.