Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced a reshuffle of ministers on Tuesday, leaving key economic portfolios unchanged, but signalling the environment will be a key issue during an election year. Treasurer Peter Costello, Finance Minister Nick Minchin, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Defence Minister Brendan Nelson were kept in their posts.

Howard promoted high-profile politician Malcolm Turnbull to the cabinet portfolio responsible for the environment and water resources as much of Australia continues to suffer water shortages after the worst drought in a century. "I think it is an effective concentration of the firepower of the prominent people within the government. There is no doubt issues relating to climate change and water are going to be important," Howard told reporters.

Trailing in the polls after almost 11 years in power, Howard is due to call an election in the second half of this year, with climate change, work laws and Australia's ongoing troop deployment to Iraq shaping up as key issues. Turnbull is a former Rhodes Scholar and merchant banker who spearheaded the failed push for Australia to become a republic in 1999. As a lawyer, Turnbull defeated the government of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in a high-profile court case when Britain attempted to block the memoirs of a former spy.

Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone was dropped from the front bench, along with Vocational Education Minister Gary Hardgrave and Sports Minister Rod Kemp, who has stood down ahead of his planned retirement at the next election.
(Planet Ark, 24/01/2007)