However, as a measure of the size of the massive Coalition wave that swept New South Wales that year, Lee picked up a swing of 25.8 percent, large enough to turn Parramatta into a safe Liberal seat.

Prior to the 2019 NSW state election in May, Lee served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Western Sydney and Multiculturalism from 1 Feb 2017 to 23 Mar 2019.

Following the 2019 state election, Lee was appointed as the Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education in the second Berejiklian ministry, with effect from 2 April 2019.

[12] Sidoti later resigned from Cabinet in March 2021 and "Lee will continue to act in those portfolios until I determine a replacement in the near future," according the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

[2] In 2023, he was appointed Professor at Western Sydney University's School of Business, where he builds partnerships with industry, government, and community organisations to enhance teaching and research excellence.