Mike Baird’s online presence costs us $600 a day: Obsessed by self promotion, critics say

HE won a legion of new supporters with his live tweeting of the Bachelor finale but Mike Baird’s love affair with social media has come at a cost. The Premier forked out $30,000 to a social guru for training.

NSW Premier Mike Baird speaks during a signing ceremony of an NDIS funding agreement between the Federal government and the state governments of NSW and Victoria at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

PREMIER Mike Baird’s online image is costing taxpayers almost $600 a day, according to documents that show a social media whiz was paid $30,000 for 51 days work advising Mr Baird on how to use Twitter and Facebook.

Mr Baird won thousands of fans when he tweeted during the final episode of The Bachelor while stuck at home with a case of “man-flu”, but invoices obtained under freedom of information show the Premier’s online presence is anything but spontaneous.

Social media whiz Tony Story was paid almost $600 a day from November 2014 to February this year, and then became the government’s director of Digital Media after the March poll.

Since Mr Story’s appointment, Mr Baird has ­appeared in slick videos where he has announced significant policy on social media, including his plan to raise the GST to 15 per cent ahead of a Council of Australian Governments meeting.

Last month, The Daily Telegraph revealed Mr Baird’s head of communications Imre Salusinszky, a former journalist with The Australian newspaper, allegedly told a staff meeting the government was bypassing “legacy media” such as newspapers and TV by using social media to talk directly to the electorate, “like North Korea”.

Mr Salusinszky has denied making the remarks.

Opposition Wastewatch Committee chairman Steve Kamper said the invoices showed Mr Baird was “obsessed” with himself.

“This is a government that is willing to cut funding to hospitals, TAFE and women’s shelters, but happy to spend big when it comes to Mike Baird’s personal image.

MIKE BAIRD STEALS THE SHOW 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

He seems very sincere for a guy who is two-timing, live on TV. This is only a 30 minute show, right? #TheBachelorAU

— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) September 17, 2015

I thought he'd made his decision when he just kissed one of the girls! My daughters are laughing at me. #TheBachelorAU

— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) September 17, 2015

“Mike Baird is obsessed with self-promotion and he expects the rest of us to pay for it,” Mr Kamper said.

“The hardworking taxpayers of NSW shouldn’t be forking out tens of thousands of dollars for the Member for Manly to tweet about TV shows.”

A spokesman for Mr Baird said Mr Story provided advice to other ministers if needed.

“Tony Story was previously employed as a contractor, but has been a full-time member of staff since the election.

“As director of digital media, Tony oversees all aspects of the Premier’s activities on digital platforms, together with providing ­advice to other ministerial offices as required,” the spokesman said.