Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders has been sworn in as the new Minster for Agriculture and Western NSW.
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Mr Saunders is one of nine minister to get promoted under NSW Premier Dominic Perrottot's shake-up.
Mr Saunders said he was looking forward to representing agriculture and western NSW.
"The one good thing about agriculture now is that it's booming, it's never been a better time to be in ag with prices high, the challenges remain around weather," he said.
He said the labour shortage issue was difficult and it was important for industry and governments to work together.
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"I want to find out the lay of the land before I make a statement on what has or hasn't happened, we need to work together to provide what we need to provide to help people in the ag industry," Mr Saunders said.
When asked why he was the best person for the job, Mr Saunders said he grew up on farms and loved ag "as a way of life".
"Being the Minister for western NSW is also a fairly important role. I'm in the capital of western NSW in Dubbo, which means I'm well positioned to represent the west really well and I'm right in the middle of NSW to look at ag things," he said.
Earlier in the week Adam Marshall, who held the portfolios, said the news he was being replaced had stung.
"That's politics. Naturally I'm disappointed, but I look back with pride and have no regrets," he said.
"I feel honoured to have been given the opportunity to help defend and grow the NSW agriculture sector over the last three years through some of the toughest challenges it has ever faced - the worst drought in living memory, Black Summer bushfires, coastal and inland floods and a mice plague.
"Despite all that, the sector has continued to grow into what is now a $21 billion industry."
He said the growth was testament to farmers and their resilience, although NSW Farmers president James Jackson said it had a lot to do with Mr Marshall too.
He said Mr Saunders has big shoes to fill, and a lot of initiatives started by Mr Marshall need to be followed through on.
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