The NSW Liberal leader says he was always in politics to make a difference and ‘then move on’

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

The New South Wales premier, Mike Baird, has announced his retirement from the premiership and from parliament, effective from next week.

Premier since April 2014, Baird announced his unexpected departure in a statement issued Thursday morning, saying, “I have decided that this is the perfect time for me to hand the reins over to a new premier.”

In a press conference Baird detailed the health issues facing his family, saying his father had undergone open heart surgery, his mother has muscular dystrophy and his sister had recently been in hospital.

“To be honest, at times I have been in pain not being able to spend the time that I should [with them] and this will change today. Whilst there’s much more to do, I strongly believe that there is a great team that I leave behind and they’re going to do many more great things for the state,” he said.

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He took a swipe at the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, saying his biggest regret was the missed opportunity on tax reform. The prime minister abandoned plans after extensive discussion with the states and territories which involved changes to the GST.

He then ruled out increasing the GST and challenged the states to levy income taxes which ended the discussions.

“I think probably the biggest regret was the lack of outcome in the tax reform debate. I think that’s probably the thing that frustrated me the most,” Baird said.

“I think there was a big opportunity there to do something very significant in terms of the competitiveness of the economy and the sustainability of funding services in the long-term, and that’s something I’m disappointed about – I certainly gave it a crack. But that was something that wasn’t to be and obviously that’s something that will be addressed into the future. So to me, that’s probably the one thing that stands out.”

Baird rejected the suggestion he was “cutting and running” after a difficult year that included a u-turn on the greyhound ban, the deputy premier Troy Grant being forced to resign and continuing controversy over the lockout laws.



“This is a long journey, as I said. When you get to this position, often after years in public life, I think it has been a long battle at times. Three years as treasurer, three years as premier – I think you look at the difference that we have made, and it’s appropriate that governments refresh and renew and for that, it is time.”

His retirement surprised senior colleagues, who consider the treasurer, Gladys Berejiklian, the obvious successor. Baird told Turnbull of his plans on Thursday morning.

“Serving as premier of NSW has been a tremendous honour, but I have made clear from the beginning that I was in politics to make a difference, and then move on. After 10 years in public life, this moment for me has arrived,” he said in a statement.



“I am immensely proud of what Barry O’Farrell and I – together with Andrew Stoner, Troy Grant, John Barilaro and our teams – have achieved over the past six years.

“We have repaired the state budget, rejuvenated the economy, created jobs in unprecedented numbers, boosted frontline services and unleashed an infrastructure boom in Sydney and the regions, which everyone can see with their own eyes.”

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The NSW parliamentary Liberal party will hold a party room meeting next week at which all leadership positions will be spilled. Baird will also resign next week as the member for Manly, the seat he has held since entering parliament in 2007.



Turnbull thanked Baird for his “remarkable leadership”. Turnbull wished him the best and thanked him for showing remarkable leadership to get NSW moving again, particularly through building infrastructure.

Australia’s ambassador to the US and former federal liberal minister Joe Hockey paid tribute on Twitter.

The former NSW Liberal premier Nick Greiner told Fairfax Media it was disappointing for the state of NSW, but good for government in that it was a shift away from “lifetime politicians”.

“I think Mike is genuinely not a political animal. In this day and age that’s very unusual. He’s genuinely not in it for the politics,” Greiner said. “He was interested in what he could deliver. It’s a counter to the professionalisation of politics, which the public doesn’t like.”

Baird, a former investment banker, assumed the premiership in April 2014 after his successor Barry O’Farrell resigned over an ICAC scandal, and led the NSW Liberal-National Coalition to victory in the 2015 election.

However, controversies over his plan to ban greyhound racing in NSW, since dumped, and Sydney’s lockout laws to reduce night-time violence have dogged his current term.