As the shock news of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's resignation broke, Malcolm Turnbull picked up his phone and sent his friend across the ditch a text: "Say it ain't so, bro".
Mr Turnbull has lavished praise on his ideological bedfellow, saying Mr Key was a role model who had achieved long-lasting economic reform and become a "very influential player" on the world stage.
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NZ PM John Key's surprise resignation
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announces his resignation at a press conference on Monday. Vision courtesy ABC News 24
"He will be a great loss to New Zealand and a great loss to the world. John Key is one of the most outstanding national leaders in the world today," the Prime Minister said.
"What he has been able to do is demonstrate that if you make the case for reform, clearly cogently, persuasively, you can win and retain strong public support for economic reform."
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Mr Key resigned on Monday after a stable eight years in the top job, having maintained and even increased his popularity. Since his National Party first formed government in 2008, Australia has had four prime ministers.
Mr Turnbull said his counterpart was a good friend and the kind of leader that knows the right time to go.
"He has gone, as he said, when he is on top. He has retired when people are begging him to stay. He is a class act, none classier," the Prime Minister said.
The New Zealander even attracted praise from the other side of the ideological divide, with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten calling him a "civilised conservative".
"John Key is from a different political party but I think he's done a good job being Prime Minister of New Zealand," Mr Shorten said. "He certainly was a great friend of Australia.
"To end such a long and distinguished political career at a time of one's own choosing is a rare achievement," Mr Shorten and Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said in a statement.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott said Mr Key had a "fine innings".
"Not many pollies retire unbeaten on a double ton," he tweeted.
In September 2015, as Mr Turnbull ousted Mr Abbott, the outgoing NZ leader poked fun at the revolving door of the Australian prime minister's office.
"I must admit, wouldn't it be exciting if we were holding this event in Australia? You'd know the prime minister's coming, you just wouldn't know who's going to show up," he joked when addressing the media.
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