PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced his new leadership team, awarding Senator Michaelia Cash a brand new senior cabinet role just weeks after her office’s involvement in the AFP raids scandal.

Unveiling his new-look cabinet, Mr Turnbull announced two newly created portfolios.

Senator Cash has been appointed Minister for Jobs and Innovation, while Peter Dutton will head up the new Home Affairs portfolio.

Mr Turnbull announced another big promotion for WA Liberal MP Christian Porter, who will replace George Brandis as Attorney-General.

Liberal MPs Craig Laundy, Jane Prentice, Zed Seselja, Dan Tehan and Michael Keenan all scored promotions in the new ministerial line-up, while Alan Tudge will make a sideways step to become Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.

Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie will be one of five new faces welcomed into cabinet as Minister for Sport, Rural Health and Regional Communications.

Nationals MP Darren Chester has been dumped as Infrastructure Minister with little-known Queensland backbenchers David Littleproud and John McVeigh taking his place.

Mr Turnbull heaped the blame on Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce for excluding Mr Chester from the cabinet, saying the Nationals leader wanted to see the northern state better represented.

Also absent from the new line-up is Arthur Sinodinos, who has opted out of the federal cabinet while he undergoes cancer treatment.

Mr Turnbull said the former Industry Minister would likely return mid-2018.

“We wish him all the best in his recovery,” he said.

Mr Turnbull also used his announcement to pay tribute to outgoing Attorney-General George Brandis, who will soon depart for London to become the next UK High Commissioner.

The PM will put Senator Brandis forward for the new role early next year, saying after 17 years of distinguished service in parliament his contribution to the nation is far from over.

“It is a very, very important time in the history of the United Kingdom and there is a lot at stake for Australia in our relations with the UK,” Mr Turnbull said.

Senator Brandis’s role as Leader of the Senate will be filled by Senator Mathias Cormann, who also takes on the addition role Special Minister of State.

Senator Cash’s significant promotion follows the October scandal that saw her media adviser David De Garis resign after admitting to alerting media to an AFP raid on the Australian Workers’ Union.

The government is already facing criticism for failing to boost the number of women in cabinet.