Ms Burch assumed full responsibility for the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services, which was previously split between two ministers, and picked up Women from Katy Gallagher and Children and Young People from Andrew Barr. After long-serving minister John Hargreaves moved to the back bench last week, Ms Burch had temporarily assumed his portfolios of Disability, Housing, Ageing, Corrections, Industrial Relations and Multicultural Affairs.

Mr Stanhope said yesterday Ms Burch would retain all but Corrections and Industrial Relations.

ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell will pick up Corrections after losing it in November last year after the ACT election.

His handling of the portfolio had been criticised after lengthy delays in the opening of the new prison, the Alexander Maconochie Centre, which he had overseen.

Mr Stanhope also said Mr Barr, who is Racing Minister, would also take over as Gaming Minister from Ms Gallagher.

In turn, Ms Gallagher would pick up Industrial Relations from Ms Burch.

Mr Stanhope also renamed his Indigenous Affairs portfolio to Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Affairs.