Mr Turnbull said the Labor government's decision to appoint Mr Bracks just before the caretaker period came into effect was unprecedented.
"I think the decisions to appoint people to positions, a number of positions, including diplomatic positions, literally on the eve of the beginning of the caretaker period, with the appointment to take effect after the date of the election, or around the date of the election, was also unprecedented," he said.
Former Victorian Liberal premier Jeff Kennett says Ms Bishop was not acting vindictively when she removed Mr Bracks from the position.
"Steven was a political appointment made a time when the election had been called, although a long time in advance," he said.
"It's always been said and Julie Bishop has indicated that this appointment, if he doesn't take up the job before the Coalition was elected, would not go ahead.
"This was a political appointment by a person who was still very political, was involved in this campaign, who hadn't taken up his post."
Incoming attorney-general George Brandis says the Coalition disagreed with the timing of Mr Bracks's appointment.
"Mr Bracks's credentials for the New York post having been a state premier were not obvious to us," he said.
"We weren't consulted about it, it was a decision made at the very end of the government when the consultation requirement was in place."
Outgoing Labor minister Mark Dreyfus says the Government was not required to consult the Coalition about the appointment.
