SYDNEY - Australian Prime Minister John Howard promoted his hardline immigration minister Philip Ruddock to the post of attorney-general Monday as part of a major cabinet reshuffle.

A total of 14 portfolios changed hands in the shake-up widely viewed as preparation for general elections expected within the next year.

The reshuffle saw Attorney-general Darryl Williams take over as communications minister from Richard Alston, who is retiring, and Amanda Winstone move from family and community services to immigration.

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott, another hardline in the conservative Howard government, moved to health and ageing - a looming problem as health costs blow out and doctors threaten to quit amid escalating insurance costs.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Treasurer Peter Costello and Defence Minister Robert Hill all held onto their jobs. "It is a major reshuffle," Howard said in announcing the changes outside parliament in Canberra. "I think it will make a strong government even stronger.

"These changes will ... reinforce the government's commitment to its goals for Australia of national security, economic strength and social stability," he said.

The most controversial aspect of the reshuffle was the promotion of Ruddock, architect of the policy of jailing asylum-seekers of all ages in remote detention camps, some on far-away Pacific islands.

Ruddock steadfastly says the policy is needed to discourage illegal immigration and his hard line has proven a vote winner in the past.

But the policy has been the target of widespread condemnation by human rights groups and the United Nations. Ruddock has also been tainted in recent months by a series of cash-for-visa allegations concerning influential associates. Howard said Ruddock's appointment to the nation's top law enforcement post was in line with his government's commitment to boosting national security at a time when Australia is a target for international terrorism.

"I think he will be a very good attorney-general and he will have a prominent role in the ongoing debate on national security," Howard said.

Government opponents disagreed. "To have Mr Ruddock, who is an international law breaker, who has incarcerated innocent people behind razor wire in conditions that would be unacceptable in most prisons in Australia, to chief law officer of the land is appalling," said Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Green,, party. Y'

Simon Crean, leader of the main opposition Labor Party, slammed Howard's decision to hand control of the health care system to Abbott, who as workplace relations minister led the government's attack on trade union power.

"More ominously, the prime minister has handed the government's attack-dog. Tony Abbott, the task of killing off Medicare, Crean said.

Howard said his new look cabinet wool lead the government into the next elections:'' scheduled to take place between November 2004 and April 2005 but widely expected to be called sooner.

"Eight seats is all that stands between us and electoral oblivion," Howard, said, referring to the slim parliamentary majority held. by his Liberal party and National Party allies.

"I hope people understand that and every opportunity I get I just want to tell Liberal supporters around Australia, `Don't imagine that we are some kind of unbeatable or un- backache favourite at the next election'.

"We are not, eight seats and we're out of , business." Governor-General Michael Jeffery will swear in the new ministry October 7. AFP