Julia Gillard's Ministry...

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Prime Minister: Julia Gillard, 48, Victoria
First-rate political skills, but will need to improve in key policy areas foreign affairs and economics.

Deputy PM, Treasurer: Wayne Swan, 56, QLD
Credited with helping the economy through the global economic crisis. Will provide a much-needed sense of stability.

Foreign Affairs: Kevin Rudd, 52, QLD
Huge experience in his new portfolio. Departmental staff nervous about the prospect of having him as their boss.

Jobs, Skills and Workplace Relations: Chris Evans, 52, WA
Has been desperate to escape from immigration after bringing a more compassionate approach to border protection.

Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Arts: Simon Crean, 61, Victoria
Experienced former Labor leader and key Gillard ally.

Defence: Stephen Smith, 54, WA
Incidental casualty of bizarre circumstances. Faces huge challenges in an important area.

 Infrastructure and Transport: Anthony Albanese, 47, NSW
Strong parliamentary performer who works well between various factions.

 Schools, Early Childhood and Youth: Peter Garrett, 57, NSW
A potential risk but good with people and better suited to this new portfolio.

 Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism: Matrin Ferguson, 56, Victoria
Former union man who is respected in the resources sector.

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship: Chris Bowen, 37, NSW
Smart and ambitious but enters a difficult portfolio.

 Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy: Stephen Conroy, 47, Victoria
Continues with one of the government's major policy challenges rolling out its mega broadband plan.

Attorney-General: Robert McClelland, 52, NSW
Despite speculation, remains in a low-key but vital portfolio. Has performed solidly if silently.

Health and Ageing: Nicola Roxon, 43, Victoria
Remains in key portfolio. Highly competent but still struggling with the legacy of the Rudd health plan.

Innovation, Industry and Science: Kim Carr, 55, Victoria
One of Gillard's key backers, remains in his portfolio.

 Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: Joseph Ludwig, 51, Queensland
Made little impact as special minister of state. Unlikely to make major changes in newportfolio.

Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs: Jenny Macklin, 56, Victoria
Not flashy in the media, but recognised as being strong on policy. Retains existing portfolios.

Finance and Deregulation: Penny Wong, , 41, South Australia
Sometimes seen as robotic but also viewed as tough and thorough.

Sustainable Population, Communities, Environment and Water: Tony Burke, 40, NSW
Will face a tough task balancing economic considerations against environmental concerns.

Minister for Trade: Craig Emerson, 55, QLD
Fancies himself as a comedian. An excellent performer with a chance to prove himself in a low-key but important portfolio.

Climate Change and Energy Efficiency: Greg Combet, 52, NSW
Star performer. Former unionist faces a mighty task working with the Greens and independents to develop a climate policy.

The outer ministry
■ Tanya Plibersek: Human Services, Social Inclusion

■ Brendan O'Connor: Home Affairs and Justice; Privacy and FOI

■ Kate Ellis: Employment Participation and Childcare

■ Mark Arbib: Indigenous Employment and Economic Development; Sport; Social Housing and Homelessness

■ Nick Sherry: Small Business; Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism

■ Warren Snowdon: Veterans' Affairs, Defence Science and Personnel

■ Bill Shorten: Assistant Treasurer; Financial Services and Superannuation

■ Mark Butler: Mental Health and Ageing

■ Gary Gray: Special Minister of State

■ Jason Clare: Defence Materiel

Parliamentary Secretaries

David Bradbury: Treasury. Jacinta Collins: Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Julie Collins: Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Mark Dreyfus: Climate Change and Energy Efficiency; Cabinet Secretary. Justine Elliot: Foreign Affairs and Trade. Don Farrell: Sustainable Population, Communities, Environment and Water. David Feeney: Defence. Mike Kelly: Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Catherine King: Health and Ageing; Infrastructure and Transport. Kate Lundy: Immigration and Citizenship; Prime Minister and Cabinet. Richard Marles: Foreign Affairs and Trade. Jan McLucas: Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

[Verily]

Why are Environment and Climate Change separate Ministries?

[You kip if you want to...]

Why are Environment and Climate Change separate Ministries?

Separate in the UK too.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

So there is not a single minister over age 56?  Does Australia hate old people?

[You kip if you want to...]

So there is not a single minister over age 56?  Does Australia hate old people?

Peter Garrett's 57, but yeah, it's wierd.

[Verily]

Why are Environment and Climate Change separate Ministries?

Separate in the UK too.

"The Brits do it, too" is hardly a justification.

[Platypus]

I believe the split is between local environments and the global environment. Not including water.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

As someone who's worked in both departments...

Climate change action is as much an economic issue, so when the department was created in 2007, they sourced most of their senior staff from the Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

So, DCC (as it was then) was tasked with developing specific programs to address that issue alone.

The Environment portfolio is pretty much what was said, it focuses on conservation etc etc, while there is an international element, it does focus locally.