The mining industry yesterday welcomed Roberts’ appointment. But it remains to be seen whether he will hold on to his job longer than his predecessors, who included Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid, both of whom were found guilty of corruption.

“Resources and Energy is a very important portfolio,” NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said.

“We look forward to working with Mr Roberts to keep mining strong to continue to deliver jobs, investment and economic growth for NSW.”

The $24.5 billion NSW mining industry delivers about 85% of the state’s electricity and is a major export earner for the state.

Mining also delivers around 91,000 jobs across the state and $1.3 billion in annual mining royalties.

Despite this successive governments have been unable to successfully promote its local industry and seen billions of dollars of investment going to Queensland and Western Australia.

Roberts will have to balance the competing demands of agriculture and wine growing in the Hunter Valley with proposals for coal mine expansions and the development of the local coal seam gas industry.

“Mining has contributed much to the historic development of NSW and continues to underpin the economic strength of regional towns and communities across NSW, including in the Hunter and Illawarra and across the Central West out to Broken Hill,” Galilee said.