 Due to the resignation of Barry O'Farrell as Premier and Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner in 2014 and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by new Premier Mike Baird and new Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing Troy Grant, in addition to her existing responsibilities as Minister for Primary Industries, Hodgkinson was appointed Assistant Minister for Tourism and Major Events Hodgkinson was appointed NSW's first Parliamentary Secretary for Southern NSW in the second Baird ministry following the 2015 state election.Following the introduction by the Baird-Grant Government in October 2016 of legislation to ban greyhound racing in NSW, Hodgkinson, with fellow Nationals MPs for the seats of Barwon and Clarence, crossed the floor to vote against the ban.After months of intense public pressure from regional communities, Premier Baird introduced new legislation overturning the greyhound racing ban that he and Grant had introduced, and then retired from State Parliament.