Mike Baird: Ex-Premier on Warringah political future after NAB exit
The former NSW Premier Mike Baird has spoken about his future after his shock resignation from National Australia Bank. The charismatic former Manly MP revealed why he won’t be getting back into politics.
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Former NSW Premier Mike Baird has revealed that he will not be returning to politics following his resignation from the National Australia Bank.
The charismatic former Manly state Liberal MP was seen by many as the ideal person to win back Tony Abbott’s old seat of Warringah from newly elected independent Zali Steggall.
However, Mr Baird, who was head of consumer banking at NAB, told the Manly Daily on Friday that his time in politics had passed.
“I love my community, but my time in politics has ended,” Mr Baird, 51, said.
Instead he said he had resigned because he wanted to look at other things, but with his background it was hard to do so while employed.
He said it was not fair on the NAB to look at other options while still working for the bank and resigning now “gave him time to have a break and look at all options”.
Mr Baird said being the state member for Manly was a privilege and he had put his heart and soul into the role when he was in the game.
He said while he still loved his “community with every fibre of his being” he would not be returning to politics.
It’s not the first time Mr Baird has resigned from a high profile role suddenly.
In January 2017 he stood down from his role as NSW Premier after three years, citing personal reasons.
He revealed at the time that he was privately struggling with serious family illness while at the same time enduring a vicious public backlash over plans to ban greyhound racing.
In a statement yesterday Mr Baird said his three years working at NAB had been rewarding during “one of the most challenging and disruptive periods for Australian banks”.