Women minister's ranks boosted

The ranks of female government ministers have been boosted following Malcolm Turnbull's reshuffle, with six women in the new-look cabinet.

And since the promotion of Nationals Senator Fiona Nash to deputy party leader, women now hold the deputy leadership positions in all three major parties for the first time in Australian politics.

Senator Nash was given regional development and regional communication to add to her rural health portfolio in the government's ministerial shake-up.

She joins Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer, Defence Minister Marise Payne, Health Minister Sussan Ley and Minister for Women Michaelia Cash in the cabinet.

Mr Turnbull promoted Liberals Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells to the outer ministry, handing her the portfolios of International Development and the Pacific.

"I note for those of you who keep the score on these things, there are six women in the cabinet and 10 in the executive," he told reporters on Saturday.

"Both deputy leaders (of) the Liberal and the National Party are women for the first time in the Coalition's history."

Tanya Plibersek has been deputy Labor leader since 2013.