NSW Premier Mike Baird resigns from politics
Tributes flowed for NSW Premier Mike Baird following his resignation. Now we look ahead to when a new Manly MP will fill his shoes.
Manly
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IT COULD be weeks before the electors of Manly find out when they will go to the polls to elect their new state MP following the announcement by Mike Baird that he will be quitting Parliament next week.
A NSW Electoral Commission spokesman said the commission would have to await the advice of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, who will issue a writ for the by-election for the seat of Manly once the vacancy of the seat is declared.
The spokesman said there is no legislated time frame for a by-election and in the past, the time between a vacancy and a by-election to fill that vacancy has varied.
Among the factors to be taken into account before a by-election can be held are informing intending voters when enrolments will close, informing would-be candidates when registration will close, the preselection of candidates by parties, the printing of ballot papers and the hire of polling booths.
At the 2015 election, there were five candidates, four at the 2011 election and seven at the 2007 election.
Liberal Party sources have indicated that at least three people will be vying for preselection in Manly.
Former Manly councillor James Griffin, and Walter Villatora, who contested Mackellar preselection at the last election, are among the favourites.
Little-known party member Nick McGowan is also believed to be running for preselection.
At the 2001 election, there were 47,298 formal votes cast.
The electorate, which has had Liberal, Labor and independent members, includes Balgowlah, Balgowlah Heights, Brookvale, Clontarf, Curl Curl, Dee Why, Fairlight, Freshwater, Manly, Manly Vale, Mosman, North Balgowlah, North Curl Curl, North Manly, Queenscliff and Seaforth.
Reaction from Bruce Baird
Mike Baird’s father Bruce has revealed that his son has “made it clear” that he will have more time for family now he is retiring from politics.
While the Premier spoke during his press conference of the difficult times ahead for his family, particularly his parents and his sister, Mr Baird Snr said they were not the only reasons the Manly MP decided to walk away.
“He’s made it clear that he would have more time to help during the times ahead and it will be appreciated,” the former State and Federal member told the Manly Daily.
He also revealed that his son’s decision to quit politics started several weeks ago after discussions with his family and that he had simply been waiting for the right time to announce it to the public.
“I’m very proud of him, as is his mum,” he said.
“He’s done an outstanding job in lots of areas and had the guts to take on tough issues, which is never easy.
“Nor has he ever forgotten that he’s the Member of Manly and he has looked after the interests of the electorate.
“His main legacies as Premier will be of infrastructure and the sale of the poles and wires to provide more funding for that infrastructure, on returning the budget to surplus and on making NSW the number one growth state in the nation.”
Local leaders pay tribute
INFLUENTIAL northern beaches identities have given their support to the outgoing premier.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott said he had a “deep sense of loss”, but added he was “confident that his successor will continue his policies especially his commitment to better roads, the western Sydney airport and democratic reform of the Liberal Party”.
Former Manly mayor Jean Hay, who’d known Mike Baird most of his life, was “disappointed”.
“What really impressed me about him was the fact that when he ran in 2007, he gave up a large salary with the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank to become a backbencher and even sold his home,” Ms Hay said.
“He’s been very popular, particularly locally, and I’ve rarely heard anyone say a bad word about him.”
Mackellar federal Liberal MP Jason Falinski declared he’d “done more to fix 16 years of corrupt Labor government than anyone else”.
He added: “As a colleague he will be missed. As a friend I understand his decision to spend more time with his family and move on.”
Davidson state Liberal MP Jonathon O’Dea also praised Baird’s work on NSW.
“He has made an enormous contribution to the state as treasurer and as premier,” Mr O’Dea said.
“He’s put NSW into a position of leadership. We were in eighth position out of eight states, now we are number one.
Northern Beaches Council administrator Dick Persons said: “He was always a pleasure to deal with, always courteous and always straightforward, and his enthusiasm was infectious.
“He combined both his roles well – as the local MP and as the premier.”
Former Warringah mayor Micheal Regan called it “a brave decision”.
Mike Baird’s resignation statement in full:
As I have reflected on the approaching halfway mark of our current term of government, and the opportunity it presents to refresh the Cabinet team, I have decided that this is the perfect time for me to hand the reins over to a new Premier.
Serving as Premier of NSW has been a tremendous honour, but I have made clear from the beginning that I was in politics to make a difference, and then move on. After 10 years in public life, this moment for me has arrived.
I am immensely proud of what Barry O’Farrell and I — together with Andrew Stoner, Troy Grant, John Barilaro and our teams — have achieved over the past six years.
We have repaired the State budget, rejuvenated the economy, created jobs in unprecedented numbers, boosted frontline services and unleashed an infrastructure boom in Sydney and the regions, which everyone can see with their own eyes.
I have always stressed that sound management of the budget and balance sheet is not done for its own sake. As well as enabling us to improve services and infrastructure, it allows us to protect the vulnerable. Among other achievements in this area, I am proud of the extra resources we have been able to direct towards our neediest schools (as the first State to sign up to the Gonski agreement); towards those with disability and their carers (as the first State to implement the NDIS); and towards vulnerable families, including through additional support for our FACS caseworkers.
The infrastructure miracle unfolding around us has been possible only because the Liberals & Nationals took a plan to the NSW public in 2015, and prevailed over a massive scare campaign mounted by Labor and the unions.
As a result, the agenda that I entered public life to establish is being implemented. What matters now is that the new Cabinet should have time to settle in and reaffirm its own agenda ahead of the election in 2019 — because only the Liberals & Nationals can be trusted to manage the continuation of the economic recovery and the infrastructure boom.
Next week there will be a Liberal party-room meeting and a spill of leadership positions. Following that meeting, I will resign from Parliament, effective immediately. It has also been an immense honour to represent the people of Manly since 2007, and my retirement from politics will enable fresh leadership for my community.
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