NSW Acting Premier Andrew Stoner has denied the departure of a senior minister from cabinet amid a corruption inquiry indicates a government in turmoil.
Senior Liberal MP Chris Hartcher quit the energy portfolio on Wednesday as Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) officers raided his Central Coast office.
Mr Stoner wouldn't comment on the investigation, a continuing probe into alleged breaches of electoral donation laws.
But he denied that possible ICAC hearings next year would taint his government as it goes to the polls in March 2015.
"This is no sign of a crisis," he told reporters in Sydney on Thursday.
"If you look at the previous Labor government, not only did you have a steady conga line of ministers leaving the cabinet but you had three premiers."
Mr Hartcher is the third O'Farrell government minister to depart his post, after the sacking of Finance Minister Greg Pearce in a matter unrelated, and Sports Minister Graham Annesley who quit for a job with the Gold Coast Titans NRL club.
The MP for Terrigal continues to serve his electorate and has said he is confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
Mr Stoner said he'd spoken with the premier, who is in India, and they both supported Mr Hartcher's decision to stand down.
He said Mr O'Farrell was not "contemplating any sort of major reshuffle of the ministry".
"Minister (Anthony) Roberts will be acting energy and resources minister into next week," he said.
"We expect that Stuart Ayres will come into the ministry.
"We've got some very good ministers, we've got stability in the cabinet and it's our intention to continue that into the immediate future."
He also said there was no reason why Mr Hartcher could not return to the ministry in the future if the ICAC found him to be innocent.
Mr O'Farrell is due to officially announce changes to the ministry on Monday.
