Oxley MP Melinda Pavey says she'd be honoured to be Nationals NSW Deputy Leader

In a bombshell announcement late on Sunday just a day after being elected again to the NSW Upper House, Mr Blair, who is Primary Industries Minister, said he was resigning.

Mrs Pavey, the Roads Minister in the last state parliament, was surprised by Mr Blair's decision and has wished him and his family well.

"I'm talking to colleagues at the moment. I'd be honoured. I'm the longest serving National Party MP with the time I've done in the Upper House and now the Lower House, I've had a good result in my electorate, but we'll be having those internal conversations. I genuinely just want to serve," she said.

"Our party had a really tough result in western New South Wales. That part of New South Wales is very close to me. They're really hurting from this drought and we've got some bridges to build there, and I want to be able to contribute to that, but it's up to colleagues. I just want to serve the party well," she said.

Mrs Pavey said it's the NSW government's job to get more employment, particularly in the regions, and create jobs that are relevant.

"We need to get small manufacturing out of Sydney, because the workers here can have a lifestyle here that would be the envy of the world," she said.

"We have a big job as a society to create that transformation to take the pressure off the cities. We have the schools here, the universities, we have got top-level hospitals. There's no reason that people shouldn't be coming to our communities.

"In terms of roads, it's been a privilege to take a policy that's going to help local councils seal more roads, and replace the timber bridges throughout our region that put communities at risk when they fail."

Mrs Pavey, who said people don't want politicians fighting among themselves, they want good governance and to see their elected representatives get back to work, secured 52.6 per cent of primary votes, and 65.5 per cent on a two-candidate preferred basis.

"It was a really strong result.  To have a swing to you is a really positive endorsement.  I thank everyone who gave me the support to keep going.  There's a lot more to do, we won't stop.

Wauchope Gazette