The shakeup, which will see health spokesman Chris Bowen take over the climate and energy portfolio from Mark Butler, is designed, in part, to quell internal divisions in the party.

Mr Fitzgibbon, who resigned from the front bench last year over dissatisfaction with the party's climate and energy policies, said the move would send the "right message to our traditional base".

"It's a good start but we need to do more than change the jockey. We need to recalibrate our policies in this area and significantly adjust our language and provide assurance to those who in the past have felt their security has been threatened by our climate change policies," he said.

Mr Fitzgibbon last week urged his party to put 'labour back into Labor' in response to polling that showed it was on track to lose the electorates of Shortland and Paterson at the next election.

On Thursday he said there "wasn't a moment to lose" developing policies to win back traditional Labor voters including miners, those associated with the mining industry, power generation workers, aluminium smelter workers and abattoir workers.

"The list is very long," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

"At the last election many people who wear the blue collar and the high-vis felt threatened by our climate change policy."

He nominated three elements of climate policy which he considered essential for the party to pursue.

The first was recommitting to net zero emissions by 2050.

The second was not to pursue a medium term emissions policy.

"We should remain committed to the Paris Agreement and the commitment made by the government of the day should remain the target for the period in question," he said.

"We can't have new governments constantly changing the target."

The third was to aim to reduce emissions industries which were not connected to electricity generation such as transport and agriculture.

" Electricity generation shouldn't have to carry all of the weight in the reduction in climate change," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

The reshuffle also saw Shortland MP Pat Conroy appointed Shadow Minister Assisting for Government Accountability.

"Along with Kristina Keneally, Labor's new Shadow Minister for Government Accountability, I'll be holding the Morrison Government to account for their use of taxpayers' money," he said.

"This builds on my experience as Labor's Waste Watch spokesperson from 2014- 2016.

"There are real issues with how Scott Morrison is spending taxpayers' money, from the $1 billion the Liberals have spent on Government advertising since 2013, to the sports rorts scandal, and the $30 million purchase of land near the Western Sydney Airport which was later valued at $3 million.

"Given the economic crisis our nation is currently dealing with, it's never been more important to hold the government to account on their spending and their overpromising and underdelivering, and I look forward to taking on this responsibility.

The new role is in addition to Mr Conroy's existing portfolio responsibilities in international development and the Pacific, climate change and defence.

"I'd like to acknowledge and thank Mark Butler and Richard Marles for their work and advice in the Climate Change and Energy and Defence portfolios," he said.

"I look forward to working with the new Shadow Minister for Climate and Energy Chris Bowen, new Shadow Minister for Defence Brendan O'Connor and the rest of my colleagues in continuing to demonstrate how a Labor Government will improve people's lives.

For faster access to the latest Newcastle news download our NEWCASTLE HERALD APP and sign up for breaking news, sport and what's on sent directly to your email.