Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells has been promoted to the role of shadow minister for ageing in the Coalition's new-look frontbench unveiled today.The Illawarra-based senator will take over the role from Margaret May, who announced recently she will not stand at the next election.Opposition leader Tony Abbott promoted key Howard government ministers Kevin Andrews, Philip Ruddock and Bronwyn Bishop to the Coalition frontbench in today's reshuffle.Mr Andrews, whose unsuccessful pitch for the leadership a fortnight ago cleared the way for Mr Abbott's campaign, will take on Mr Abbott's former portfolios of families, housing and human services.Ms Bishop, who previously served as aged care minister in the Howard government, moves into the role of shadow seniors minister, in which she will share responsibility for policy relating to older Australians with Senator Fierravanti-Wells.The Parliaments longest serving member, Philip Ruddock, takes on the role of shadow cabinet secretary following earlier controversy over his decision to seek another term in his Sydney-based electorate.Senator Fierravanti-Wells resigned as shadow immigration parliamentary secretary late last month in protest at the party's position on an emissions trading scheme under the Coalition's former leader Malcolm Turnbull.In a statement at the time, she said she had tendered her resignation in response to concerns raised by the electorate."I acknowledge the avalanche of correspondence and feedback conveyed to me from a wide cross-section of the community, most especially after the decision of the joint party room to amend and support the legislation," she said."In all my years of involvement in the party, I have never seen such an extraordinary reaction."As a person who owes much to the Liberal Party and to that grassroots base, as well as to the people of NSW who elected me, I feel compelled to heed their concerns."
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