By Dominic Giannini in Canberra

Anthony Albanese has dumped Tanya Plibersek from her environment portfolio as part of a shake-up of his ministry.

The prime minister played down internal divisions following Labor’s landslide election victory as he promoted close ally Tim Ayres to cabinet and elevated Anne Aly from the outer ministry.

Ms Plibersek, who has a frosty relationship with Mr Albanese despite being one of Labor’s most senior women, has been shifted to social services.

The writing had been on the wall after Mr Albanese went over the top of Ms Plibersek to dump environmental laws after lobbying from West Australian stakeholders.

Michelle Rowland becomes the attorney-general after Mark Dreyfus was knifed by his right faction in a power play by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.

Murray Watt takes over as environment minister, with Amanda Rishworth assuming the employment and workplace relations portfolio.

“Murray is an outstanding performer as a minister. I regard the environment as a really central portfolio,” Mr Albanese said.

He retained his frontline team of Defence Minister Mr Marles, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Trade Minister Don Farrell.

Other ministers keeping their portfolios include Malarndirri McCarthy (Indigenous Australians), Tony Burke (home affairs), Mark Butler (health), Chris Bowen (energy), Jason Clare (education) and Clare O’Neil (housing).

Madeleine King kept resources, Catherine King infrastructure, Pat Conroy defence industry and Pacific affairs and Julie Collins agriculture.

Anika Wells takes on the communications portfolio alongside sport, meaning she will take carriage of the contentious gambling advertising restriction policy Labor shelved before the election.

Dr Aly’s promotion reflects a greater focus on WA after the state helped deliver Labor government for the second consecutive federal election.

She is the sole Muslim MP in the senior leadership team after Ed Husic also fell victim to internal warfare, branding Mr Marles a “factional assassin” on the way out.

Senator Ayres took Mr Husic’s science and industry portfolios, while Jess Walsh (early childhood education), Daniel Mulino (assistant treasurer) and Sam Rae (aged care and seniors) also entered the 30-person ministry.

The ministry will be sworn in at Government House on Tuesday.

ALBANESE CABINET AS OF MAY 12, 2025

*Anthony Albanese – prime minister

*Richard Marles – defence

*Jim Chalmers – treasurer

*Penny Wong – foreign affairs

*Katy Gallagher – finance, public service, women, government services

*Don Farrell – trade and tourism, special minister of state

*Tony Burke – home affairs, immigration and citizenship, cyber security, arts

*Jason Clare – education

*Chris Bowen – climate change and energy

*Murray Watt – environment and water

*Michelle Rowland – attorney-general

*Pat Conroy – defence industry, Pacific island affairs

*Madeleine King – resources, northern Australia

*Catherine King – infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government

*Malarndirri McCarthy – Indigenous Australians

*Clare O’Neil – housing, homelessness, cities

*Tanya Plibersek – social services

*Amanda Rishworth – employment and workplace relations

*Anika Wells – communications, sport

*Mark Butler – health and ageing, disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme

*Julie Collins – agriculture, fisheries and forestry

*Anne Aly – small business, international development, multicultural affairs

*Tim Ayres – industry and innovation, science

OUTER MINISTRY

*Jess Walsh – early childhood education, youth

*Daniel Mulino – financial services, assistant treasurer

*Sam Rae – aged care and seniors

*Matt Keogh – veterans’ affairs, defence personnel

*Kristy McBain – regional development, local government and territories, emergency management

*Jenny McAllister – National Disability Insurance Scheme

*Andrew Giles – skills and training