Kean elected NSW deputy Liberal leader

Treasurer Matt Kean has been elected unopposed as NSW deputy Liberal leader as the state's parliament resumes sitting after the winter break.

Mr Kean was appointed unopposed at a party room meeting on Tuesday.

The position became vacant after Stuart Ayres resigned from the ministry last week over his involvement in the appointment of former deputy premier John Barilaro to a controversial overseas trade role.

NSW parliament resumed on Tuesday with an embattled minority government attempting to stop a series of scandals from running all the way to the March election.

The deputy leadership was effectively decided on Monday when the only other contender, Transport Minister David Elliott, dropped out hours after Mr Kean confirmed he was running.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said he spoke to Mr Kean and Mr Elliott "in relation to the importance of unity" on Monday.

"I wanted to have unity in the party ... and they both understood that," Mr Perrottet said after the partyroom meeting.

"What you saw today was a very united party room behind (Mr Kean)," he said.

Mr Kean said he was humbled to be endorsed by the party.

"My role is to support the premier, support the team and make sure we collectively work to build a stronger, brighter future," he said.

Mr Elliott is ill and not present at parliament when the partyroom met.

As parliament resumes, Mr Ayres and former fair trading minister Eleni Petinos will both shift to the back benches.

Mr Ayres spent more than eight years as a minister, while Ms Petinos faces an easier adjustment after less than eight months in cabinet.

After defending Ms Petinos as bullying allegations emerged from her office, Mr Perrottet booted the minister after receiving further information about her conduct.

He could face questions over the specifics of that information from an opposition and crossbench spoilt for choice on which scandals to pursue.

Mr Perrottet became premier in October after Gladys Berejiklian stepped down amid a corruption investigation, which is yet to be resolved.

The resignation of Mr Barilaro from the deputy premiership soon after led to a crisis for the government when he was appointed as senior trade and investment commissioner to the Americas.

He resigned from the role within two weeks of his appointment becoming public in June, noting it had become "untenable".

But questions persist on how he got the job, with a parliamentary inquiry into the appointment hearing from Mr Barilaro on Monday.

He said the inquiry failed to produce any evidence he had done anything wrong, but he regretted ever applying for the job.

The inquiry is separate to a Department of Premier and Cabinet review of the appointment, a draft of which prompted Mr Ayres' resignation after it identified he might have interfered in the hiring process.

Labor wants to expand the scope of the inquiry to other overseas trade and investment postings, which it has promised to abolish if it wins the March election.

The coalition has ruled in NSW since a landslide election victory in 2011, but now is ending its third term in minority government after the Liberals ejected two members.

Kiama MP Gareth Ward is facing sexual assault charges while Drummoyne MP John Sidoti was recently found corrupt by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Mr Sidoti was suspended from parliament on Tuesday until at least November 25.

He has vowed to fight the ICAC's finding against him in the Supreme Court.