While the Newcastle MP gave a "no comment" when asked if she were in line to take over the ministry from Treasurer Michael Costa, she was aware the rumour was circulating.

"People toss things around all the time, but it's not coming from within Government," she said.

She confirmed she had stood in for Mr Costa at a number of Hunter events, but she also had for other ministers and the Premier.

Her support for the Government's power restructure was "because of the beliefs that I have", and was not related to any factional alliance, she said.

"I have to do what I think is best, and I'm pretty comfortable with my decision."

She believed there would be "some money flowing to the Hunter" from the $10 billion the Government expects from the sales, although "the infrastructure projects the Premier has indicated have been primarily about rail in Sydney and water measures for regional NSW".

She said she expected to see Swansea Bridge funded from the proceeds.

Prominent privatisation critic and Cessnock MP Kerry Hickey said Ms McKay's support for the Premier during the protracted and ugly Labor battle over the power sales was "the key" to any likely change.

"When you have a very strong group that's opposed to privatisation and a Premier who's staked his reputation on getting it through, he's always going to give some jobs to those who support his point of view," he said.

"This is a right-wing position. It's either got to be Jodi or [Maitland MP] Frank Terenzini."

Mr Costa's full-time commitment to being Treasurer meant the Hunter ministry was "lagging behind", Mr Hickey said.

"Minister for the Hunter shouldn't be a token job but at the end of the day it has to come second to the Treasury position," he said.

Mr Hickey said he believed Ms McKay would do a good job.

"I think she'd grab it with both hands and do her best."

But he said Ms McKay should ask herself what the Hunter will get from privatising the electricity system when "the $10 billion is going to be eaten by Sydney".

A spokesman for Mr Costa's office refused to comment about any Hunter ministry change.

"Our comment would be, 'What cabinet reshuffle?' We don't know about any," he said.