The New South Wales Premier's new Cabinet will be sworn in at Government House this afternoon, but speculation is rife about the factional deals behind some of Gladys Berejiklian's appointments.

Key points: New NSW cabinet to be sworn in at 2pm

New NSW cabinet to be sworn in at 2pm Moderate MPs Matt Kean and Don Harwin promoted to Cabinet

Moderate MPs Matt Kean and Don Harwin promoted to Cabinet Questions raised over the appointment of Ray Williams to the Multicultural affairs portfolio

Ms Berejiklian was forced to defend the reshuffle yesterday against claims it blatantly rewarded the moderate allies and right-faction powerbrokers who helped elevate her to the premiership.

Moderate Liberal MPs Matt Kean and Don Harwin, who helped Ms Berejiklian secure the numbers to become Premier, have both been promoted into Cabinet.

Meanwhile, key right-faction powerbrokers Anthony Roberts and David Elliot have been rewarded with the key portfolios of planning/housing and counter-terrorism respectively.

A number of experienced ministers were dropped, while others were shoe-horned into new portfolios against their wishes.

Some MPs the ABC has spoken to have questioned the wisdom of putting Pru Goward back into the Family and Community Services portfolio, saying she "hardly covered herself in glory" when she held the portfolio before Mike Baird became premier.

Others are querying why veteran Minister Brad Hazzard has been handed the health portfolio when other experienced ministers were moved on.

Mr Hazzard is known to be very close to former Premier Barry O'Farrell, who has been a long-time supporter of Ms Berejiklian.

Some MPs have questioned why Brad Hazzard was given the health portfolio. ( AAP: Dan Himbrechts )

The appointment of Ray Williams to the Multicultural Affairs portfolio over other contenders with more multicultural backgrounds, such as John Sidoti and Geoff Lee, has also raised eyebrows.

A number of MPs are questioning whether it is the result of a horse-trading between the moderate and centre-right factions.

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Will last-minute deals keep factional wars at bay?

It was almost midnight on Saturday night and Ms Berejiklian was still deciding on who would be her final minister, the Minister for Multiculturalism and Disability.

It was down to the final two — John Sidoti, MP for Drummoyne, who is of Italian background and a popular figure in his local ethnic community, or Geoff Lee, MP for Parramatta, who is part Chinese and also a well-known figure in his local ethnic community.

Mr Sidoti's name was all but out due to forces in his own faction. They were angry he called for then-health minister Jillian Skinner to go over the lack of funding at Concord Hospital.

So Mr Lee was the next obvious choice, well liked and rumoured to be in a position to take up a gong under former premier Mike Baird.

But sources tell the ABC that a deal was done at the 11th hour.

Castle Hill MP Ray Williams, who hails from the right, was promoted to minister.

In exchange, the left would get their preferred candidate up in the preselection for the seat of North Shore.

The right's likely choice to run is Tim James, former CEO of Medicines Australia and former chief of staff to Anthony Roberts.

The seat is set for a by-election in coming months after the resignation on Friday of Ms Skinner.

There are now disgruntled MPs and former ministers floating on the backbench, unhappy with factional deals that have been done.

Similar factional deals plagued Labor in its last years in office. Mr Baird was successful in keeping the factional warlords at bay.

Now Ms Berejiklian will have to keep disgruntled MPs happy or risk them undermining her government and premiership.