Ms King was named Australia’s new Minister for Regional Services, Local Communities and Territories and Road Safety yesterday, giving Ballarat its first minister in decades.

Committee for Ballarat chief executive officer John Kilgour said Ms King had a good appreciation of regional issues, and it stood her in good stead for her new portfolio.

He said having a minister again in the electorate had been a long time coming.

“In terms of what it means for Ballarat, time will tell,” he said.

“This appointment gives her the opportunity to lend her voice around a number of key issues in the regional portfolio, which would be welcome.

“The important thing is that there are a lot of common issues that matter to regional Australia, not just Ballarat."

Another regional MP, the Wollongong-based Sharon Bird, was appointed Minister for Higher Education and Skills. Ms Bird became the Illawarra’s first federal minister since 1990

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese took on the regional development portfolio in yesterday's reshuffle after the former minister, Simon Crean, was sacked for disloyalty last week.

Key independent MP Tony Windsor backed the appointment.

“If I could put it into context, I had a lot of time for Simon Crean and I thought he was one of the ministers on either side of the political divide that actually understood regional development,” Mr Windsor said.

“If I was to choose someone else to take on that mantle I would have chosen Anthony Albanese.

“This late in the term of parliament, we need someone who’s got an understanding of those issues ... he does.

“Given that regional Australia has been the focus of this parliament, Anthony Albanese is probably the minister Rob Oakeshott and I have had the most to do with.”

City of Ballarat mayor John Burt said he was sure the council’s relationship with Ms King would continue to be a positive and successful one.

“From our council point of view, we’re very pleased Catherine has received that honour and that position,” he said.

“Ballarat is a significant region and having our local member take on that, all bodes well for all the regions and Ballarat in particular.”

Cr Burt said Ballarat’s local member knew what the council had in mind for its new strategy and just last week, a delegation of councillors and staff were in Canberra talking with her about the projects important to the city.

“She knows first hand and she knows us personally,” he said.

“Ballarat is very important to her as far as her political career is concerned.”