Ambition swirls around AG's chair

Stepping up, stepping down ... Who's who in a prospective new year Canberra reshuffle ... Poor Harry Jenkins falling on his parliamentary cutlery is just the beginning ... Polly Peck suggests there is more knife work to come 

After a long and bumpy year, most Federal politicians would have left Canberra this week with a deep sigh of relief. Two-and-a half months off (a bit like those long, luxurious school hols).

After having hot Kevvie panting down her neck in recent months, Julia's opportunity for nice happy snaps with that other man in her life, Barry Obama, has blunted the knife weilded by the Minister for Foreign Travel (the one he previously removed from his back with the monogram "JG"  on the handle).

We're now at the point where there is a strong political case for a new year shuffle of Labor's front line.

The ball got rolling this week with the lovable Harry Jenkins falling on his cutlery to enable for Slippery Peter Slipper to become speaker.

We should all raise a glass or two of Slipper's beloved red to his elevation. The former solicitor hasn't set the world on fire since he was first elected in 1985, but certainly he has learnt a few swift moves from fellow Queensland rat Mal Colston.

Significantly, there has been renewed speculation in Polly World about a ministerial reshuffle. The suggestions have been floating about like rogue carbon emissions. 

Most noticeably Bill Shorten has been trying to break down the door of the cabinet room using his ego as a battering ram, in between appearances on QandA.

Then there is the upright Mark Dreyfus QC (never forget the QC) who was most put out to find Robert McClelland had occupied his chair in the Attorney General's suite when he arrived from his Melbourne chambers in 2007.

And Human Services minister Tanya Plibersek would be feeling she should be at the head of the queue of contenders, even though Bill has managed to appear on QandA more times than she has.

With Labor still looking sickly in the polls any one of this ambitious trio, along with people like Sports Minister Mark (The Skull) Arbib - who has spent the last year telling anyone who would listen that he really is interested in policy - would be concerned they might never get their feet under the cabinet table.

There is also a strong sense that a spot ought to be made for Harry given he was so good to move aside for Slippery. An ambassadorship, possible?

But who would Julia tap to make room at her table?

Robert McClelland would be one contender, with some of his NSW bruvvas eyeing off his south Sydney seat. 

Not one for media limelight, McClelland has also often hinted at a desire to hang out his shingle in Phillip Street.

Despite a somewhat plodding public persona he does have a strong record of law reform in the portfolio, which may well look more significant in light of those who follow him.

Dreyfus talks the talk (and does he love to talk) yet sometimes his judgement is off beam.

And Gillard - a fellow Labor lawyer - might feel she is in McClelland's debt given he has taken a bullet or two for her over time.

Workplace relations minister Chris Evans would also be feeling the heat. He was driven to distraction in the immigration portfolio and then went on to have to deal with Paul Howes. By now he'd be happy with a cushier life. 

In Polly's view, the man who should be getting ready to pack-up his office is immigration minister Chris Bowen.

From Grocery Watch to the Malaysia "Solution", Bowen has shown himself as the minister with the reverse Midas touch.

His so-called "innovative and bold arrangement" for sending children back to a country which embraces caning of asylum seekers took political double-speak to a new level.

Then he promptly came up with legislation that made Philip Ruddock look like a bleeding heart.

If you thought 2011 was a swirling shambles, 2012 promises even more giddiness. 

Hold tight. 

Polly Peck reporting