The opposition has hit out at Peter Garrett, saying he shouldn't be put in charge of a schools ministry after presiding over the home insulation debacle.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has moved Mr Garrett from environment to a new portfolio covering schools, early childhood and youth.
The promotion is not without controversy.
Mr Garrett will preside over the troubled $14 billion school building program and is charged with solving some cost blowouts.
The move comes just seven months after he was stripped of his responsibility for the bungled $2.45 billion home insulation program, which was linked to four deaths.
Opposition frontbencher Peter Dutton said he was "absolutely amazed" Mr Garrett was rewarded.
"He's presided over deaths and fires in a program which probably had been mishandled like no other since Federation," he told Sky News.
Sustainable Population Minister Tony Burke will take over the environment portfolio.
Evans ready to tackle jobs portfolio
Meanwhile newly appointed Jobs, Skills and Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans says he will make employment training a priority.
Senator Evans has been moved from immigration to the new portfolio, which also includes higher education.
On Sunday, Senator Evans said employment training was vital to help meet the growing demand for skilled workers, especially in Western Australia and Queensland.
"Investing in jobs, investing in trades training and investing in the education of our young people is the greatest challenge we face in ensuring our continued prosperity as a nation," he said.
Senator Evans said he was looking forward to working with the university sector to ensure Australia remained competitive in the international market as a leader in research and innovation.
He said education had been strengthened by the appointment of two ministers to the portfolio with Peter Garrett taking on the new schools portfolio.
Senator Evans said the Prime Minister was placing a greater emphasis on education by splitting up the portfolio.
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