Lismore MP Janelle Saffin will enter the NSW government's inner circle as part of a reshuffle sparked by a minister's resignation over her use of a taxpayer-funded car.
Ms Saffin has been a high-profile advocate for the region following record-breaking floods in 2022 that left thousands of homes uninhabitable or damaged.
The Labor veteran was first elected to state parliament in 1995 and also served a six-year stint as the federal member for Page, which covers Lismore.
Ms Saffin has been given a newly created post as recovery minister, and will also take on the portfolios of small business and minister for the north coast.
Premier Chris Minns on Monday said she was one of the most experienced MPs in the government and had already been instrumental in helping Lismore and surrounding areas deal with the flood fallout and recent impacts of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.
The Labor government and its coalition predecessors have been criticised for the slow pace of recovery efforts in the region, where many remain in temporary housing more than three years after the natural disaster.
John Graham has also been permanently given the role of transport minister, leaving him responsible for handling a bitter dispute with rail workers over pay.
The long-running spat has repeatedly led to major disruptions on the state's train network, although industrial action has been put on hold until July after a legal win for the state government.
Mr Graham has been acting in the role after his predecessor Jo Haylen resigned from the portfolio after using her ministerial car to travel from a holiday home to a winery for lunch and for other private trips.
The trips didn't breach existing parliamentary rules, but Ms Haylen conceded she had fallen short of public expectations with her car use.
While Mr Graham will lose his existing job as roads minister, he will keep his role negotiating with private toll operator Transurban to overhaul pricing on Sydney's sprawling network of motorways.
He will also keep his responsibilities as special minister of state, minister for the arts, minister for music and minister for night-time economy.
Roads will become the responsibility of Jenny Aitchison, whose existing portfolio of regional roads will be absorbed into the ministry.
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