CANBERRA, Jan. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Australian Prime Minister John Howard reshuffled his government on Tuesday and appointed Education Minister Brendan Nelson as the country's new defense minister.

    But the core of the government -- Howard himself, Treasurer Peter Costello, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Health Minister Tony Abbott -- remains unchanged.

    The reshuffle was triggered by outgoing Defense Minister RobertHill's resignation last week amidst reports that he will be Australia's next ambassador to the United Nations. Family and Community Services Minister Kay Patterson and Fisheries Minister Ian Macdonald also offered to quit.

    Howard said Nelson has the ability to be an excellent defense minister.

    "Brendan is a details man," Howard said, and "defense is a very challenging, detail-driven portfolio."

    Hill will be replaced as leader of the government in the Senateby Nick Minchin, who will retain his portfolio as finance minister.

    High profile backbenchers Malcolm Turnbull and Andrew Robb have been made parliamentary secretaries, with Robb given the task of helping beleaguered Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone fix up her troubled department.

    Promising junior ministers Mal Brough and Julie Bishop have been promoted into cabinet and four new faces rewarded with outer ministry places.

    Vanstone has been stripped of indigenous affairs, with Brough taking on the responsibility as part of a redesigned families, community services and indigenous affairs portfolio.

    Former Multicultural Affairs Minister John Cobb will be Brough's junior minister, while Aged Care Minister Julie Bishop will replace Nelson in education and will move into cabinet.

    Santo Santoro will take over the ageing portfolio, while Bruce Billson has been rewarded for a good performance as Downer's parliamentary secretary.

    Howard said the new reshuffle reflects the Coalition government's depth of talent and his ministry has the talent to take the government to the next election witch falls on November next year.

    The swearing-in ceremony will be on Friday. Enditem