Cessnock MP Clayton Barr fears he was sacked from Labor's frontbench because he did not publicly support new leader Chris Minns.
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Mr Barr, who is not aligned to a party faction, said he was "disappointed" after losing his positions as Shadow Minister for the Hunter, Shadow Minister for Water and Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and Tertiary Education when Mr Minns announced his cabinet reshuffle on Friday night.
"I didn't come out and make a public declaration of support for either candidate, and perhaps in the end that might have contributed to me being cut," he said.
Mr Minns was elected leader on June 4 after Jodi McKay quit a week earlier and his only rival for the job, former leader Michael Daley, withdrew from the race.
Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp won his first shadow cabinet job in the reshuffle after publicly supporting Mr Minns' candidacy, while several of Ms McKay's Hunter-based allies retained their positions on the frontbench.
Mr Crakanthorp said he was "proud and humbled" to be appointed Shadow Minister for Skills and TAFE and Shadow Minister for Tertiary Education.
Port Stephens MP Kate Washington, a close friend of Ms McKay, has shifted from the shadow environment portfolio to family and community services and disability inclusion.
Ms Washington was livid after Ms McKay's resignation on May 28, publicly accusing "foul forces" in the party of undermining the former Newcastle MP since she beat Mr Minns in a caucus and rank-and-file vote in 2019.
Swansea MP Yasmin Catley, Ms McKay's deputy, will replace Mr Barr as shadow minister for the Hunter. She also picked up the customer service and digital portfolios.
Ms Catley was embroiled in Ms McKay's demise when one of her staff members distributed a dirt file on Mr Minns to the media. Mr Minns resigned from shadow cabinet in protest, and Ms McKay quit two days later, calling on the party to unite in time for the 2023 election.
Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison, another McKay ally, is the Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads after moving from investment and tourism and medical research.
The retention of some McKay supporters and Mr Daley on the frontbench has been interpreted as a sign Mr Minns is seeking stability and unity, but party sources have told the Newcastle Herald that many MPs remain deeply troubled by the leadership change.
"Some are angry the rank-and-file vote for Jodi has not been respected," one party insider said.
Some shadow ministers who did not openly back Mr Minns for leader now find themselves on the backbench. Ms McKay and Mr Minns are both from the NSW Labor Right faction, but the party's factional tensions have not gone away.
The source said Mr Minns could face leadership pressure if Labor performed poorly in any by-elections before the next general election in 2023.
Ms McKay quit six days after Labor's dismal showing in the Upper Hunter by-election.
In other shadow cabinet changes, Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison has shifted from early childhood learning to become Shadow Minister for Women. She also has the portfolios of seniors and the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Mr Minns described his new team as "the future of Labor in NSW".
"It represents a new generation with ideas, energy and innovation," he said.
"The Labor team represents modern-day Australia. I believe this team gives us the best chance of delivering a Labor government in 2023."
The 27-strong shadow cabinet includes 13 women, including deputy Prue Car, but Ms McKay declined an offer to sit on the frontbench.
Michael Parris
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
Michael Parris reports on politics for the Newcastle Herald. He started at the Herald in 1994 after working in the ABC Newcastle newsroom. Michael spent much of his career as a sub-editor before moving into political reporting in 2017. He was a finalist in the Sports Australia national media awards for his stories about a male-only tennis club in Newcastle. He has covered NSW and federal elections, state and federal budgets and local politics. He has also written extensively about the COVID-19 pandemic with a special focus on data analysis and the effects of lockdowns on the Hunter community.
