DUMPED ministers Ian Macdonald and Frank Sartor will return to the NSW frontbench in Premier Kristina Keneally's new Cabinet.

Mr Macdonald takes on his old portfolio of state and regional development as well as minister for forest resources.

He is also the minister for the Central Coast, a portfolio that was held by the dumped premier Nathan Rees.

Mr Sartor will be responsible for environment while picking up his previously held portfolio of minister assisting the minister for health (cancer).

Mr Sartor was dumped as planning minister when Mr Rees became premier, while Mr Macdonald and Joe Tripodi were stripped of their ministerial positions by Mr Rees last month.

Mr Rees has not accepted Ms Keneally's offer to sit on the front bench after being dumped as premier in a leadership spill last Thursday.

The number of ministers in Ms Keneally's Cabinet has increased from 22 to 23.

"We are about stability,'' Ms Keneally said in a statement before the new Cabinet was sworn in at Sydney's Government House this afternoon.

"Most ministers retain their duties and I am pleased to bring back the skills and knowledge of Mr Frank Sartor and Mr Ian Macdonald.''