Here are the 13 ways Mike Baird changed NSW
MIKE Baird will be remembered for his U-turns on the lockout laws and greyhound ban, his successes with the economy and Sydney’s infrastructure — and of course his Bachelor tweets.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
MIKE Baird has been NSW Premier for just two years and nine months but has had a seismic impact on the state.
He never shied from making decisions, and while making huge strides with the economy and the state’s infrastructure, he lost popularity over the aborted greyhound racing ban and lockout laws.
Here is a list of 13 ways NSW was impacted and altered by Mike Baird.
GREYHOUND RACING BAN
Baird announced a greyhound racing ban on July 7, 2016 after receiving a Special Commission of Inquiry report on the industry from retired High Court judge Michael McHugh.
He had called for the inquiry after disturbing footage emerged on Four Corners showing live piglets, possums and rabbits being used to train greyhounds.
The law meant greyhound racing would be banned in NSW from July 2017 with penalties of up to one year’s jail for anyone who conducted a race.
However, whole communities stood to lose jobs and critically the Nationals found their rank-and-file rural support undermined.
In October, the ban was reversed, after which Nationals leaderTroy Grant lost the leadership and his deputy premier position. This also followed a disastrous Orange by-election.
LOCKOUT LAWS
In February 2014, Mike Baird announced licensing restrictions were to be imposed in a bid to cut late-night violence across Sydney.
The catalyst for the move was the death of Thomas Kelly, who died in July 2012 after being king-hit in Kings Cross on a night out.
Drink service was cut off at 3am in pubs and clubs and if you were in the specified lockout zone and weren’t in a venue by 1:30am you couldn’t get a drink.
However, the new laws were blamed for a loss of business in the lockout areas and campaigners claimed the city had become a fun-free dead zone.
‘Keep Sydney Open’ Protests were held across the city and in Kings Cross and Baird admitted even his own daughter had suffered flak.
In December, Baird announced the laws would be relaxed.
SHARK NETS
Mike Baird announced the trial installation of shark nets at Lennox Head, Ballina and Evans Head beaches in October after a public outcry at the rising incidence of shark attacks.
Despite 22 shark attacks in NSW since 2015, he had held out making the move over concerns of the detrimental impact on marine life, in line with conservation groups.
A number of marine life- including 14 dolphins, 425 stingrays and 24 turtles- were caught in nets last year.
However when 17-year-old Cooper Allen was attacked off Lighthouse Beach in Ballina by a 3.5m great white shark, Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair made the decision to install 100 drum lines along popular “hot spot” north coast beaches.
But Baird found himself under attack from protesters in Ballina in November, with one man dressed as a hammerhead shark attempting to throw a net over him
COUNCIL AMALGAMATIONS
Baird announced his plan to amalgamate NSW councils in May 2016, claiming it was “the most comprehensive local government reform in 100 years.”
He risked the ire of some powerful figures in pursuit of his belief that bureaucracy and wastage could be massively reduced.
The biggest mergers included Marrickville, Ashfield and Leichhardt becoming the Inner West Council; Auburn and Holroyd joining as Cumberland Council; Hurstville and Kogarah combined as the Georges River Council; and Manly, Pittwater and Warringah turned into a unitary Northern Beaches Council.
However, the redrawing of the state’s map was held up by legal action, brought by Woollahra.
And the close call for the Nationals at the Orange by-election was also pinned on the boundary changes in the area.
Anti-amalgamation campaigners have already claimed credit for his retirement.
LIVERPOOL PLAINS
Coal mining was scrapped on the fertile Liverpool Plains after Baird labelled it “too risky” and spent $220 million buying an exploration licence back from BHP Billiton.
“After careful consideration, the NSW government has determined coal mining under these highly fertile black soil plains, as proposed by Labor, poses too great a risk for the future of this foodbowl and the underground water sources that support it,” Mr Baird said.
As well as saving the state’s ‘foodbowl’, his government has also said he stepped in to help the racing industry in the Hunter Valley.
In December, it emerged he would put up buffer zones or change the law to save Darley and coolmore studs, which Anglo American planned a large open-cut pit within 900km of.
ECONOMY
A former investment banker, Mr Baird’s privatisation program is widely credited with boosting the state’s fortunes and making the state the economic envy of the nation.
In the press conference early today, he touched on how NSW has the strongest jobs growth, strong housing approvals and the lowest unemployment rate.
In June last year, Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian delivered a record $3.4b surplus in her second state budget.
There was also increased revenues from stamp duty and lower interest payments, thanks to the paying down of debt after the $10 billion leasing of electricity company TransGrid.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Under Mr Baird, the NSW government has also embarked on an enormous infrastructure drive that is aimed at bolstering the state’s road network.
Billions have been boring tunnels, buying homes to demolish and chipping chunks off green spaces to build the $16.8b WestConnex, which has many opponents, including the Mayor of Sydney.
Among the massive projects are improvements to the Sydney Metro, such as the new station at Barangaroo, construction of the Light Rail and sports stadium upgrades.
POLES AND WIRES
The sales of Transgrid and Ausgrid _ the electricity “poles and wires” — gave this state the biggest financial bonanza in its history.
The government has recorded practically no net debt in 2016. It could be $40 billion better off once Endeavour is sold.
SUPPORTER GO WEST
During his Premiership, Mike Baird wad an active supporter of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph’s Go West and Fair Go for the West campaigns.
“It’s not an underestimation to say that the success of Sydney, NSW and the country in the next 10 years hinges on whether we deliver the services and infrastructure required to keep Western Sydney moving,” Mr Baird said.
Pledges from Mr Baird directly linked to the campaign included changing Boxing Day trading hours so that retailers across the city could open on December 26.
His NSW governments worked with PM Malcolm turnbull on a pledge to deliver nearly 100,000 jobs, more housing and better transport for western Sydney in the first City Deal for NSW.
He also actively campaigned for Badgerys Creek.
LIVE TWEETING THE BACHELOR
Stuck at home on the couch with man-flu. Daughters have hijacked the TV and are watching The Bachelor. Going to be a loooong night.
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) September 17, 2015
It must be terrible for those girls. Imagine having every word u say captured, televised, and taken out of context. Oh wait.. #TheBachelorAU
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) September 17, 2015
Baird’s live tweeting of the 2015 season of the Bachelor had us all in stitches. Blaming his daughter’s for hijacking the TV, he tweeted out a hilarious string of comments.
Baird concluded his live tweets with: “I can’t take any more. Off to Bed. Key learning: Cabinet decision making might be a lot simpler with a rose ceremony process.”
OVERHAUL OF ICAC
ICAC Commissioner Megan Latham was asked to reapply for her job when the Baird government decided to overhaul the commission.
This was in the wake of a succession of controversial inquiries including the aborted bid to investigate senior Crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen and Operation Spicer which destroyed the careers of a succession of Liberal MPs.
The overhaul stripped the commissioner of the sole power to conduct public inquiries or private examinations by instituting a three-commissioner system, two of whom would be part-time commissioners appointed by the government. The move was attacked by a succession of former ICAC commissioners.
GUNS
Mike Baird announced he would demand the toughest gun laws possible.
He rolled his Police Minister in Cabinet over the controversial Adler shotgun, giving the gun control lobby a big win with tough restrictions that acted as a de facto ban.
In the wake of the Lindt Cafe Siege his Government announced the creation of the Illegal Firearms Investigation and Reward Scheme plus increased funds for police investigations into illegal weapons.
BRADFIELD BLUEPRINT
The NSW Premier’s drive to ensure Sydney’s future as a tier one international city was proven with his support for The Daily Telegraph’s Bradfield Oration.
Mr Baird was chosen to deliver the second oration in 2015, outlining the State Government’s bold plans to create Australia’s first tech precinct, taking in White Bay, Glebe Island and Rozelle.
Each year, the event attracted heavyweights from corporate, political and academic worlds, all coming together to celebrate the vision for Sydney shown by Sir John Bradfield.
The special letter that inspired Jeff Fenech to greatness
Johnny Lewis opens up on his relationship with the Marrickville Mauler, widely regarded as the nation’s greatest ever boxer, and his early life on the mean streets of Sydney’s inner west.
Minns mulls police powers to reject protests as costs soar
The Premier said a review would take place into protests and the allocation of police resources, saying cops should have powers to reject a protest, citing a $5m financial burden. Have your say in our poll.