PRIME Minister Julia Gillard is expected to bring high-flyer Greg Combet into cabinet to be climate minister, as Labor tries to rebuild credibility on an issue that helped sow the seeds of its poor performance at the federal election last month.
Mr Combet, the former ACTU chief who assisted in the climate portfolio during his first term in Parliament, is seen as one of the government's best trouble shooters, most recently in his handling of the mop-up after the home insulation debacle.
His big challenge as climate minister would be to help win acceptance for a carbon price after Labor's failed efforts to get an emissions trading scheme passed through Parliament during its first term.
Penny Wong, the minister who oversaw the ETS process and then had the difficult task of selling Ms Gillard's unpopular plan for a citizens assembly on climate change, is believed to want a change of portfolio.
At the first meeting of the Labor caucus since the election, Ms Gillard promised a consultative, inclusive approach in her government, while warning of the need for discipline.
But South Australian backbencher Nick Champion sent a tough message to his colleagues, lambasting the first term caucus for being ''craven and callow''. He gave notice he would not be holding his tongue in the future.
Implicitly criticising ministers for not asserting themselves when Kevin Rudd was PM, he referred to the Westminster system and said if members of the executive had issues with the leader, they should be raised with the leadership.
In a speech clearly marking her intention to have a different style to Mr Rudd - and interpreted by some present as being critical of him - Ms Gillard said the government would not be worried by the daily news cycle. ''Our challenge is to get out a clear agenda of what we stand for - not be worried about each day's 6 o'clock news,'' she said.
She promised a ''serious'' review of the election performance by a senior person who was not involved in the campaign, and said Labor had to articulate what it uniquely stood for. This included choosing work over welfare, and supporting economic reform and fairness.
In a reference to the government's reliance on the support of two country independent MPs for its survival, she said Labor always had the ''interests of regional Australians at heart''.
She warned against leaks, saying that while caucus members had the right to raise issues, their comments should be confined to the caucus room.
Parliament will resume on September 28, with four more sitting weeks before Christmas.
Ms Gillard has been seeing ministers individually ahead of the announcement of her new ministry early next week.
Among the big prospective changes, Mr Rudd is expected to become foreign minister, Chris Evans wants a move from immigration, and Peter Garrett is expected to move from environment. Robert McClelland's position as Attorney-General is uncertain, but he is expected to stay in cabinet, while Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen may switch to finance.
Ms Gillard is very sensitive about being seen to promote leaders of the coup that installed her. There was speculation that one of them, Bill Shorten, might get home affairs.
The Liberals met separately in Canberra for the first time since the election, and Tony Abbott sent a clear message to his MPs to hold off on direct attacks on the rural independents.
Criticism needed to be directed at Labor he said. Sources say Mr Abbott argued it was important to maintain a relationship with Mr Oakeshott and fellow independent Tony Windsor, given the Labor minority government may not last its full term.
Despite the guidance from Mr Abbott, Nationals Leader Warren Truss again attacked the deal between Labor and the two ''so-called'' independents. ''Labor's $9.9 billion deal is mostly smoke and mirrors and I am amazed that the independents were so easily conned,'' he said.
Mr Abbott is under pressure to promote new blood in a shadow ministry reshuffle likely to be unveiled after Ms Gillard's at the weekend. Speculation has former leader Malcolm Turnbull as front-runner for the communications portfolio, and a significant shuffle of personnel outside the key economic spots.
Mr Abbott and Julie Bishop were endorsed as leader and deputy leader at yesterday's gathering, which also welcomed new MPs to Canberra including Parliament's youngest ever representative, Wyatt Roy, and first indigenous MP Ken Wyatt.
Mr Abbott said he had a great team. ''I think we have done ourselves proud and we will do our country proud over the next three years.''
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