Liberal MP Stuart Ayres is poised to return to the NSW government front bench after resigning in the wake of the John Barilaro scandal, if he can hang on to his seat and the party is returned to power.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said Mr Ayres would return as a senior cabinet minister if the coalition won the March 25 election.
"Stuart hasn't just made a contribution to his local community and improved it for families across western Sydney, he has made a significant contribution to the whole state of NSW," Mr Perrottet told the Western Weekender.
"He has the energy, the experience, the ideas, the drive, the passion, to continue to make a strong contribution at the highest levels and he will be a senior minister in the government I lead."
Penrith is one of the most hotly-contested electorates in the state, won by Mr Ayres by a margin of 1.3 per cent at the last election.
After a boundary adjustment Mr Ayres has a margin of 0.4 per cent.
Mr Ayres resigned as the minister for investment, trade, sport and other portfolios in August last year, after an independent investigation launched by Mr Perrottet found he may have breached the ministerial code of conduct.
An additional review, also ordered by the premier, cleared Mr Ayres of breaching the code the following month.
However, the premier said he did not intend to return Mr Ayres to cabinet.
"The cabinet in place is serving the people of NSW," Mr Perrottet said at the time.
Mr Ayres came under intense scrutiny after a broader upper house inquiry was launched to examine the government's appointment of former deputy premier Mr Barilaro to a desirable New York-based trade role.
The review, carried out by former NSW public service commissioner Graeme Head, found Mr Barilaro's appointment was not conducted at arm's length.
Mr Ayres maintained he did not engage in wrongdoing, but resigned as deputy Liberal leader - a position now held by NSW Treasurer Matt Kean.
AAP has contacted the premier's office and Mr Ayres for comment.
