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Shorten priorities education on frontbench

Bill Shorten has unveiled what he calls his "dream team", led by his deputy Tanya Plibersek, to make education the focus of the opposition.

The opposition leader unveiled his new 32-person frontbench on Saturday, which includes eight women.

Mr Shorten spared veteran left faction senator Kim Carr from being dumped, keeping him in the shadow cabinet in the industry and innovation portfolio. But he loses higher education.

Kate Ellis (early childhood, TAFE and vocational), Andrew Giles (schools), Terri Butler (universities), Doug Cameron (skills), and Jacinta Collins (assistant early childhood) round out what Mr Shorten described as Labor's "education dream team".

Labor leader Bill Shorten and deputy leader Tanya Plibersek. Source: AAP

"Education ... is the first-order economic and social priority for Labor in the 45th parliament," he told reporters in Canberra on Saturday.

"It is one of the sharpest differences between us and the Turnbull government."

Ms Plibersek, who gives up foreign affairs to Senate leader Penny Wong, said eduction was a passion of hers.

"It's one of those areas that makes a difference to an individual's life," she said.


Other big winners included Queensland MP Shayne Neumann (immigration) and western Sydney MP Michelle Rowland (communications), who move into the shadow cabinet.

Mr Shorten will personally take on the indigenous affairs portfolio, with the "father of reconciliation", WA senator Pat Dodson, as his assistant spokesman.

Chris Bowen remains as shadow treasurer, while Queensland MP Jim Chalmers gets promoted to finance spokesman.

Former ACT chief minister Katy Gallagher also joins the shadow cabinet, taking on small business and financial services.

Plibersek moves to education, said to become the focus of the ALP opposition. Source: AAP

Also within the economic portfolios are Andrew Leigh (competition and productivity) and Sam Dastyari (consumer affairs) - but both miss out on the pay rise because only 30 are paid at the higher rate.

Mr Chalmers replaces Tony Burke who returns to environment, while remaining manager of opposition business in the house. Mark Butler is in cabinet with climate change and energy.

Catherine King retains the health portfolio. Also keeping their portfolios are Jenny Macklin (family services), Anthony Albanese (infrastructure), Brendan O'Connor (employment and workplace relations), Mark Dreyfuss (attorney-general), and Joel Fitzgibbon (Agriculture).

Jason Clare becomes resources, northern Australia and trade spokesman.

Deputy Senate leader Stephen Conroy has been dumped from defence to special minister of state and sport. Richard Marles takes over the critical defence portfolio.

Mr Shorten described his new team as "a positive, alternative, bold government ready to govern", and more than able to take on the new Turnbull government.

"The challenge for Labor is that we've got more talented people than places to put them, which is the opposite to the government," Mr Shorten said.