But on Sunday he was in Wollongong making his first visit to a regional centre outside Sydney in that capacity.

Mr Minns was eager to hit the ground running and spoke about issues such jobs, transport and the need to urgently upgrade the WIN Sports and Entertainment Centre.

Just two days after Michael Daley pulled out of the NSW Labor leadership race, a week after Jodi McKay resigned as Leader of the Opposition, Mr Minns was touring the Springhill Works at BlueScope's Port Kembla steelworks flanked by Wollongong MP Paul Scully and Shellharbour MP Anna Watson.

Read more: Ryan Park, Paull Scully back Chris Minns for Labor leader

While he wouldn't be drawn on who would be on his front bench he said he had enormous respect for Keira MP Ryan Park who he described as hardworking, passionate and committed.

"I can guarantee he is going to have a big big role in the opposition," he said.

Mr Minns said Mr Scully and Ms Watson were also fantastic candidates but decisions about who will be on his front bench are still yet to be made and won't be until he talks more with all his colleagues.

"I didn't expect to have the leadership of the Labor party on Friday," he said.

"I thought it would be a bit further into the distance. So those conversations need to take place. I want to take my time with it. I want to get it right to make sure our front bench is up to the challenge of taking the fight right up to the government. It is going to take a few days."

Mr Scully said he was happy to serve in whatever capacity Mr Minns wanted him to, whether that be continuing in his role as shadow minister for natural resources or another portfolio.

He said the new Labor leader's visit emphasised what an important part of the NSW economy the Illawarra is.

Mr Minns said Sunday's visit was about getting into the region and emphasising the priorities a NSW Labor Government would have under his leadership.

"Second day on the job as leader of the opposition I wanted to come to the Illawarra directly to look at the jobs of today and the jobs of tomorrow and to listen to the community down here about how we can drive economic growth, investment and have good well paid jobs for the future," he said.

"I know that we can work with the local members and the community and industry to drive the kind of investment we need to see into the future.

"Labor has always believed in a NSW that builds things, that stands on the side of workers and believes in economic growth and prosperity. And backs Australian know-how, Australian products and Australian labour."

Mr Minns described the visit as a 'listening tour' and said he was inspired to see the standard of the work and the world class quality of products being made at Port Kembla.

"It is Aussie know-how at its best and I want to see it expand," he said.

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Mr Minns said he would love to see a reline of No 6 blast furnace within the next five to six years.

"I had a chat with BlueScope today about the next steps for that and it will of course be part of the political agenda over the next two years," he said.

In responding to priorities highlighted in the NSW Government's Illawarra and Shoalhaven regional plan Mr Minns said the revitalising the Illawarra Sports and Entertainment Precinct and upgrading the entertainment centre was a fantastic initiative that needed to happen sooner rather than later.

"I would love to see some dollars attached to it," he said.

"I think they (the NSW Government) need to get a bit more specific about it. With a budget on the table in the coming weeks we need to know what investment is going to happen in the Illawarra. They need to put their money where their mouth is. I think that is what the people of the Illawarra expect."

On the development of a South West Illawarra Rail Link (SWIRL) to untap the economic potential of transport between Western Sydney and the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Mr Minns said Labor supported better integrated transport.

"We want to see people from the Illawarra and goods transferred more easily from this part of NSW to the rest of the state."

Mr Minns also spoke about the proposal for a COVID-19 quarantine facility in NSW describing it as "a common sense solution".

"I support the Premier's position in relation to this. We will offer bipartisan support to get that facility up and running in this state," he said.

"We will always back common sense solutions. Even those proposed by our political opponents. I think a quarantine facility funded by the Commonwealth Government is exactly what NSW needs right now."

Mr Scully thanked the new Labor leader for coming down and making the Illawarra a priority as it has always been for Labor.

He said it was great for him to see how steel produced in the region was among the greenest and cleanest in the world. And how it already used a high content of renewable energy, recycled water and scrap steel.

Ms Watson said Ms Minns' visit emphasised how NSW Labor was interested in jobs going forward. She said the future of TAFE and the return of more apprenticeships was a key part of that.

Read more: Chris Minns new Labor leader after Michael Daley drops out

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