Former premier Mike Baird keeps ‘door open’ on political comeback
After quitting as NAB’s chief customer officer last week, former NSW premier Mike Baird has ruled out a tilt at federal politics, but the Liberals are not giving up on the man they say could one day be prime minister of Australia.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- NZ-born crim avoids deportation after claiming Aboriginality
- The cost of ScoMo’s Christmas Island flight club
Former NSW premier Mike Baird has ruled out a tilt at federal politics — for now — but perhaps not forever.
The man who many Liberals believe could be prime minister has been long been wooed by senior party members to run for the former prized blue-ribbon seat of Warringah, with the promise of immediately joining the leadership group.
But while Mr Baird publicly ruled it out, when pressed by The Sunday Telegraph the 51-year-old offered a glimmer of hope to his party.
“Let’s have lunch when I’m Joe Biden’s age,” he said, referring to the 77-year-old US presidential candidate.
“My expectation is my next role will be an executive role.
“I’m going to consider every option and look at everything before making a decision and work out what I’m most passionate about. I really want to find something that has real purpose and makes a difference. I’ve got a completely open mind.”
Mr Baird quit his role as chief customer officer of the National Australia Bank last week after indicating to close friends weeks earlier that his heart was no longer in the job.
MORE FROM LINDA SILMALIS:
Ecologist: ‘Hazard reduction won’t stop major bushfires’
ScoMo’s right-hand man probed over power play
The decision came a year after former NAB boss Andrew Thorburn stepped down in the wake of the Hayne banking inquiry.
A Thorburn loyalist, Mr Baird was later overlooked for the chief executive role.
The snub led to a flurry of job offers, culminating in at least one meeting with Commonwealth Bank chairwoman Catherine Livingstone late last year.
While the job offers are rolling in, Mr Baird said he wanted to take a few months off to consider each one properly.
“There is no CBA role,” he said.
“There is nothing lined up. This is the thing — when I left politics, I didn’t make time for a break. My plan is to take a couple of months off.”
While the last thing Mr Baird wants is for there to be constant speculation over when and if he will return to politics, those closest to him say he should be taking it as a compliment.
“Warringah would have been good opportunity — he would have won the seat back and he would have been in the leadership group straight away,” a party source said.
“He has both the left and right on board.
“He’s progressive — he accepts climate change — but his personal views are conservative and appealing to the right.”
Conservative NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet is among his fans.
“Mike would be an asset for any organisation,” he said.
“He has that rare combination of vision and character coupled with the ability to communicate his ideas clearly.”
Moderate powerbroker and Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean compared his former state colleague to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“Mike Baird is a future potential prime minister,” he said.
“He should one day run. He’d be Australia’s Justin Trudeau.”
Another senior NSW Liberal figure said the challenges Mr Baird had faced as premier together with the brutality of the banking sector had “hardened” him, making him better prepared to handle the cut and thrust of politics — something that forced him to quit back in 2017 after less than three years in the job.
“He’s wiser, but he has not lost any of his authenticity,” the source said.
“He is genuine and that’s why people like him.
“He has flaws, of course he does. He cracked under pressure. That’s why he quit politics.
“There was greyhounds, council amalgamations, the Lindt Cafe siege, but there were also people actively undermining him. But what hasn’t killed him has made him stronger and as a result of all of that, he is stronger. I think he would be make an a invincible PM, but he will wait until he feels the call.”
While politics is on the backburner, Mr Baird said he did often chat to his successor, Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who he counts as a close friend.
“Of course I offer her my opinion, that’s the beauty of being out of politics,” he said.
As for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Mr Baird is sympathetic.
“There’s been the drought, bushfires, floods and now the virus, things that would test any leader,” he said.
“He’s doing a good job.”
The Liberal Party is expected to open preselections for the seat of Warringah at least one year before the next federal election.
Originally published as Former premier Mike Baird keeps ‘door open’ on political comeback