Mike Baird retires: Premier meets with likely successor Gladys Berejiklian at Avenue on Chifley cafe

SECRET MEETING: Mike Baird and his loyal Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian got together for a coffee date this morning where the keys to the state were exchanged over lattes.

Retiring NSW Premier Mike Baird and likely successor Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: AAP

• Mike Baird retires as premier of NSW
• How Mike Baird was a ‘dictator who ‘had to go’

IT was the morning coffee date where the keys to the State were exchanged over lattes.

Premier Mike Baird and his loyal Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian, huddled around a tiny table in the Premier’s favourite cafe, one with a relieved face, the other anxious.

Their coffee dates had been a regular feature of their professional relationship. None so critical as this one.

Baird had walked calmly towards the cafe where he was about to tell his probable successor that he was quitting and the job could be hers.

Retiring NSW Premier Mike Baird and likely successor Gladys Berejiklian. Picture: AAP

Berejiklian appeared anxious as she sat waiting at a small table at the Avenue On Chifley coffee shop when Baird strolled towards her from the his office at Governor Macquarie tower.

Avenue on Chifley, the cafe where the meeting took place.

At 8.15am, Mr Baird strolled down the stairs leading to the coffee shop where his one-time rival for the job stood to meet him. They ordered their coffees, sat down and appeared to get straight down to business.

“The greeting between them was a friendly hello before they ordered,’’ a customer at the next table said.

“From the friendly hello the mood and demeanour of the pair seemed to get quite sombre. They quickly appeared to be engrossed in earnest discussion. There weren’t any smiles or laughter so it was obvious something serious was being discussed.’’

NSW Premier Mike Baird addresses a press conference at his Martin Place Office. Picture: Mark Evans

Ever the Baird loyalist, Berejiklian has always been the premier-in-waiting. Having avoided becoming embroiled in scandal while handling the challenging Treasury portfolio, her dominant factional camp says she is the “only” choice as successor to Baird.

The Liberal Party and Ms Berejiklian in particular have been preparing for this day for the past 18 months.

Ms Berejiklian will put out a statement this afternoon declaring that she is running for the leadership of the Liberal Party — and the premier’s job.

After her coffee meeting with Mr Baird, Ms Berejiklian has been talking to key factional players this morning.

Premier Mike Baird and Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian met for coffee today ahead of Mr Baird’s shock retirement. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Mike Baird: The life of a Premier

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In late 2015 the ­Michael Photios-led moderates went about rounding up support and strengthening their power base to set up Ms Berejiklian as the next premier.

NSW Premier Mike Baird at the press conference announcing his retirement. Picture: Mark Evans

The once-powerful right wing of the party were wiped out when ICAC named many of them as being involved in dubious fundraising practises. The right were also further hurt when Prime Minister Tony Abbott was dumped as Prime Minister.

That has led to a resurgence in power by the moderates in the Liberal party across NSW, ensuring that the Treasurer should have the numbers to become the next premier.