NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is being urged to appoint upper house MP Natalie Ward to the Expenditure Review Committee to help fulfil the government’s pledge to improve gender diversity across state-owned corporations and boards.

The ERC – a four-person, subcommittee representing cabinet’s most senior decision-making body – has had a vacancy since Stuart Ayres resigned as deputy leader and trade minister after John Barilaro’s appointment to a US trade post.