Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has named a new-look shadow ministerial lineup with an emphasis on women, working parents and those under 50.
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''It's a young team, blended with experience,'' he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
Deputy leader Tanya Plibersek will take on foreign affairs as well as international development. Senate leader Penny Wong moves from finance to trade and investment. In one of the more surprising appointments, deputy Senate leader Stephen Conroy moves from communications to defence.
Tony Burke, who had both the environment and immigration porfolios in government, steps into the position of Labor's finance spokesman. He will also take on the high-profile tactical position of manager of opposition business - going up against Christopher Pyne in the House of Representatives.
The man Mr Shorten defeated in Labor's leadership contest, Anthony Albanese, keeps the infrastructure and transport portfolio and is also the opposition's tourism spokesman.
Mr Shorten said he believed his team was a "break from the past", and that it was both energetic and diverse.
The Labor leader will take on both small business and science as well as his leadership duties.
In a move that contrasts Labor against the Coalition - who did not name a specific science minister - Mr Shorten named Senator Kim Carr as the minister assisting him for science.
Senator Carr will also keep his higher education, research, innovation and industry portfolios in opposition.
Mr Shorten said that almost half of the shadow executive would be women, with more working parents than ever before in a an executive of Australian politics.
He said in the leadership group - made up of himself, Ms Plibersek, Senator Wong and Senator Conroy - all had a child who was six years old or younger.
He added that there was more Generation X in the shadow lineup than ever before in Australian politics, balanced by ''experience in government and opposition''.
Ms Plibersek explained her move from health to foreign affairs, saying she had a long-held interest in the area. She said she was particularly interested in the international development side.
The Deputy Opposition Leader will also take on responsibility for the Centenary of Anzac commemorations, noting she had visited Gallipoli as a teenager and had long had an interest in history.
Questions have been asked about why South Australian senator Don Farrell was appointed to Mr Shorten's frontbench and then given two key roles - as shadow minister for the Centenary of Anzac and shadow minister for veterans' affairs - when his Senate term is due to expire in July 2014.
Senator Farrell failed to secure another term at the September election but there is widespread speculation that another Labor MP will move aside to ensure Senator Farrell can continue to sit in the Parliament.
As expected, Chris Bowen will remain as shadow treasurer. Mark Butler also stays in the high profile environment and climate change portfolio, Mark Dreyfus stays as shadow attorney-general and Joel Fitzgibbon stays in agriculture.
South Australian MP Kate Ellis secures a promotion to the education portfolio, while also keeping early childhood education.
Catherine King has similarly been promoted as shadow minister for health, while experienced Labor frontbencher Jenny Macklin remains in families and disability reform.
Rudd backer Richard Marles takes on immigration and border protection. It is understood he was keen to take on the role even though it is considered one of the most challenging portfolios.
Former minister for home affairs Jason Clare takes on communication, with western Sydney MP Michelle Rowland, known for her impressive knowledge of the NBN, will assist in the communications portfolio.
Canberra MP Andrew Leigh, a former economics academic, takes on the prized junior role of shadow assistant treasurer.
Mr Shorten has also exercised his powers as party leader to appoint some new faces as parliamentary secretaries, which were not included in his initial frontbench list announced on Monday.
Newly elected Queensland MP, and former adviser to Wayne Swan, Jim Chalmers will be a shadow parliamentary secretary to Mr Shorten, along with Jacinta Collins and Michael Danby.
Canberra MP Gai Brodtman will be shadow parliamentary secretary for defence.
Tony Zappia, Ed Husic, Warren Snowdon, Lisa Singh, Amanda Rishworth, Carol Brown and Louise Pratt were also among those named as parliamentary secretaries.
