In a further sign that jobs and investment have moved to centre stage under the new Premier, Keneally says she will revisit Rees's decision, announced on his final day in office, to establish a national park to preserve river red gums on the Murray.

Both decisions suggest former premier Bob Carr -- who helped shape Rees's position on the red gums and other environmental issues -- will have less influence in Keneally's administration.

Keneally says any decision on a fuel source for a new baseload power station in NSW will be left to the private sector. "On electricity generation, we've laid out a process and we have been neutral on the position of whether it's coal or gas fired," she says. "That's something the market will determine in the light of such factors as the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme."

Meanwhile, the competition watchdog has given final approval to the long-awaited Newcastle port solution for Hunter Valley's coal miners, paving the way for expansion. The ACCC has signed off on the port-based capacity framework arrangements, which form part of the long-term solution to constraints in the Hunter's coal chain.

ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel says coal producers have, for the first time, signed long-term contracts with Rio Tinto-backed Port Waratah Coal Services to secure capacity at the port of Newcastle, which has up to 40 ships waiting offshore.