Freshly returned from camping by the Murray River, North Coast Liberal MLC Catherine Cusack quipped she would "rather tell people she was a plumber than a politician".

Ms Cusack is the parliamentary secretary to outgoing NSW Premier Mike Baird, and has seen the trials and tribulations of the top job and the toll it has taken on her boss up close.

"Family pressures have been the big one that's ramped up in the past few months, as he explained," Ms Cusack said.

"There's really been a perfect storm of circumstances that has led to this decision, but I do believe the increasingly toxic nature of politics has become perhaps a factor in that thinking.

"I think the image of politics is becoming a real problem in terms of attracting that talent in the future."

Untruthful comments hurtful

Mr Baird was the first premier to embrace social media, particularly Twitter.

Former local government minister Don Page said the messaging had been easier when he started in politics and only had the mainstream media to deal with.

"With the development of social media, firstly it's become very time-consuming for many politicians, and importantly there's no filters as to whether an opinion expressed in social media is founded on facts or accurate information," he said.

"That can be very traumatising for the person on the receiving end of untruthful comments, so it can be very hurtful.

"Social media, which was meant to make the world a smaller place by bringing everybody closer together and allowing more expression, is actually perversely causing communities to pull apart."

Community withdrawing into bubbles

It is widely recognised that social media creates silos or social media tribes where like-minded people share similar views and unfriend or unfollow those who do not share their own world view.

US political analysts say social media tribes are the reason why many people were shocked at the US election outcome. ( Reuters: Eric Thayer )

US political analysts have cited it as one reason why the election of Donald Trump came as a shock to many commentators, Democrat voters and mainstream political apparatchiks on both sides.

"One survey came out saying more than half of Hillary Clinton supporters did not know anybody who was voting for Donald Trump, and something like 80 per cent of Donald Trump supporters did not know anybody who was voting for Hillary Clinton," Ms Cusack said.

"And I actually found that a frightening statistic in terms of the quality of political discussion and debate because it suggests, as Barack Obama did in his recent speech, that our community is withdrawing into little bubbles of people who all agree with each other and hold the same view, and just reinforce that view," she said.

"From a politician's perspective we're trying to have a discourse, we're trying to talk about ideas and we're trying to win arguments, and when you've got this system that's breaking apart into little bubbles, it's completely changed the nature of politics."

'Healthy disrespect for politicians'

Ms Cusack said Australians had always had "the most healthy disrespect for politicians".

"But the healthy cynicism has tipped into a different sphere," she said.

"I'm discerning among many people almost a pathological hatred of their politicians, which is irrational, which is toxic and which is a sign that some of those people are in a state of deep distress themselves."

Sorry, this video has expired Mike Baird thanks family for support after 10 years in public life

It is reminiscent of the millions of Americans who, comforted by his straight-talking, voted for Donald Trump precisely because he was not a career politician.

But could the victim in the age of social media be the middle ground?

Ms Cusack believes signs abound that moderates from either side of politics are struggling to be heard.

"I fear that we have a shrinking middle in politics, and that extremes either on the left or the right are very active in these forums," she said.

"So when I read these comments not only in social media, but also online in newspapers and on Facebook, I have to [remind myself] this isn't what the world is like, this isn't what most families are like, but it is having a profound effect on political discourse."

Entertainment, not news

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Now the chairman of Regional Development Australia Northern Rivers, Mr Page said the oversimplification of issues was another booby trap social media had laid for politicians.

"People have a short space to make a comment, they tend to be either black or white. The reality of politics and life generally is it's full of greys," Mr Page said.

Mr Page said mainstream media and particularly commercial media needed to shoulder some of the blame for dumbing down debate for entertainment's sake.

"It's not just about news, it's often about providing entertainment, and the oversimplification combined with entertainment leaves some of the ordinary people in the street confused about what their politicians are doing.

"You might be a fantastic candidate, but as soon as you become elected you're just another politician.

"You're the same person one day to the next but your image has changed, and people are really cynical about politicians and that's really sad."

Westminster system gladiatorial

Mr Page said what was needed were more statesmen politicians and fewer party political operators.

"That is what the public want as well, but we're not getting them," he said.

Ever since cameras were first introduced in parliaments, one side of the chamber engaging in colourful slanging matches with the other has made the nightly news on every channel.

"Politics has gotten a whole lot nastier," Mr Page said.

"It's partly driven by the attitude of politicians to their job, so we need to have a bit of a think about how we operate ourselves.

"And I think the media, and particularly the commercial media, need to have a bit of a think about how they perpetuate conflict and entertainment as opposed to news, in the presentation of the issues before the politicians of the day."

Playing the game

Ms Cusack agreed with the sentiment.

"Politicians are not blameless victims in this. Politicians have played the game very hard and we've used social media as well. Some people would say you reap what you sow," she said.

"Everybody gets tarred with the same brush. I feel that the horse has very much bolted on all of this and I'm a little bit pessimistic about these issues."

After 25 years in state parliament, Mr Page confessed he too was pessimistic about the future of politics.

"I've had people that I thought would be good in politics over the years and they've just smiled at me and said 'I wouldn't want to go into that hellhole and do what you do'.

"That's a bit of a worry when you get people who just wouldn't want to consider it," he said.

"I do think we need to recognise that with our leaders, we need to give them an opportunity to lead.

"There will always be good people who want to make a contribution, and we have a responsibility to create the atmosphere and the environment where those people feel they want to contribute and serve."