The biggest winner in Anthony Albanese's new frontbench team was Kristina Keneally.

Key points: Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton labelled the appointment a "hospital pass"

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton labelled the appointment a "hospital pass" Kristina Keneally previously disliked the idea of boat turnbacks and offshore processing

Kristina Keneally previously disliked the idea of boat turnbacks and offshore processing There had been speculation that Labor would carve up the Home Affairs portfolio if it won government

She's rocketed from the backbench to become Shadow Home Affairs Minister in a move that could make or break her career in federal politics.

Senator Keneally contributes to both the fresh blood and the additional women that Anthony Albanese wanted in his Shadow Cabinet.

She played a key attack dog role for Labor during the election campaign, most notably calling Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton a "thug" and "the most toxic man in the Liberal Party".

Within two hours of yesterday's announcement that she would be mirroring his role, Peter Dutton had labelled her appointment a "hospital pass".

"Kristina Keneally is against every element of Operation Sovereign Borders," Mr Dutton said.

"There is nobody less qualified in the Labor Party on border protection policies than Kristina Keneally, yet she's ended up with the portfolio.

"It's quite bizarre — Anthony Albanese must have a great sense of humour."

Senator Keneally previously said she disliked the idea of boat turnbacks and offshore processing.

But on Monday she said her views had evolved since then.

"The things I've written in the past have really been an honest grappling of how we as a country ensure we are securing our borders and yet treating people humanely," Senator Keneally told the ABC.

Those comments followed a series of posts on Twitter on Sunday, in which she emphasised Labor's full support for safe boat turnbacks, offshore processing and regional resettlement.

"They are necessary tools to keep our borders secure, keep our country safe, and to ensure we are treating people humanely," Senator Keneally said on Monday.

"It is no good, no good at all if people are dying at sea, and as a first-world humane country in our region we need to take steps to ensure that people are not losing their lives at sea and that we are keeping our borders safe."

The party previously didn't have a Home Affairs spokesperson, and she said the creation of this role proved Labor was serious about keeping Australians safe.

But Mr Dutton shot back that it had "taken them years to even get to this point".

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'Home Affairs is now here to stay'

There had been speculation before the election that Labor would carve up the Home Affairs portfolio if it won government.

The super-portfolio was created by the Turnbull Government, but some in the Opposition wanted to return ASIO to the Attorney-General's fold.

Policing and law enforcement expert John Coyne from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said the appointment of Senator Keneally showed Labor had given up on that idea.

"Home Affairs is now here to stay," Dr Coyne said.

"It's an interesting move (from Anthony Albanese) and, I guess, a resignation or a recognition that that's the case."

Dr Coyne said that as a migrant, Senator Keneally would bring a unique perspective to the shadow portfolio — but she will also face a steep learning curve.

"For any minister or shadow minister, the Home Affairs portfolio is an incredibly broad challenge," he said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 4 minutes 44 seconds 4 m 44 s Barrie Cassidy and the Insiders panel discuss Ed Husic's decision to make way for Kristina Keneally on Labor's front bench.

"Whilst offshore processing and Operation Sovereign Borders is a highly volatile issue in Australian politics, the Home Affairs portfolio is far broader than that.

"I think we can look forward to seeing greater challenges in terms of political decisions and certainly greater debate in terms of policy... I don't think there'll be any free kicks."

An opportunity to 'soar or crash'

Australian National University international security and intelligence studies expert, John Blaxland, said there was also a political element to picking Senator Keneally for the role.

"I think it's quite a clever move," Professor Blaxland said.

Professor Blaxland said the role was an opportunity for Senator Keneally to soar or crash. ( ABC News )

"It places a photogenic, high profile, but controversial political figure up against an equally controversial Liberal figure, Peter Dutton, in a portfolio that is fraught with landmines and opportunities for the Labor Party to get some traction."

He said the job would either allow her to prove herself, or it would publicly demonstrate her limits to her Labor colleagues.

"It's going to make for some sparks," he said.

"And I think this is going to make the Home Affairs domain a particularly interesting domain for domestic politics.

"In terms of the implications for security and intelligence, this is something I don't know that Kristina Keneally knows that much about.

"But it's an opportunity really for her to either soar or crash."