Freshly minted Labor leader Jodi McKay says there will be space on her frontbench for former leader Michael Daley “if the opportunity arises and he wants to do it”.

She says it has been his decision to remain on the backbench since he stepped down immediately after the party’s election loss in March.

NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay in her Parliament House office. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

“I asked him [if he wanted to become a shadow minister] and he said no,” she told the Herald. “The thing is when you are not leading the party any more, you still have the respect of your colleagues. Michael is very highly regarded and very talented and, like my other colleagues [I] just want to make sure he is looked after and respected.

“I’ve told shadow cabinet that there will be a reshuffle before the [next] election. So everyone is on trial, on notice.”