The political resignations that shocked Australia

MIKE Baird’s resignation has left many Australians in shock. He now joins a list of politicians whose spectacular resignations are unforgettable.

MIKE Baird shocked the country today when he resigned as NSW Premier out of the blue.

Posting a statement on Twitter just after 9am, Mr Baird said it had been an honour to serve the people of NSW.

There have been more shocking resignations in the nation’s history — but Mr Baird’s would have to rate pretty highly.

Labor senator Stephen Conroy probably has him beat for tabling his resignation speech in Parliament at 9pm and not telling his acting party leader.

Likewise, former NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, who Mr Baird stepped in to replace in 2014, had a fairly shocking resignation.

We take a look back at how some of Australia’s politicans bowed out of the political game.

Senator resigned by tabling a speech in Parliament at 9pm on September 15, 2016.

Labor senator Stephen Conroy

September 2016

Labor senator Stephen Conroy gets the top spot on this list because even his acting party leader didn’t know it was coming.

The veteran senator resigned by tabling a speech in Parliament at 9pm on September 15 last year.

Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek told media the next morning she had found out in news reports.

Mr Conroy said he was sick of “explaining to my young daughter why people have shouted abuse at her Daddy in the street”.

“You should always go out on top,” he said.

“It must be time to say farewell.”

Barry O’Farrell resigned as NSW Premier in 2014 over a $3000 bottle of wine. Picture Cameron Richardson

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell

April 2014

Second spot goes to Barry O’Farrell, who resigned as NSW Premier in 2014 after a ‘significant memory fail’ — he forgot he had received a $3000 bottle of wine from the head of a company linked to the Obeid family.

Mr O’Farrell announced his resignation just one day after an Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into the Obeid-linked company Australian Water Holdings was told he had received the bottle of wine.

Under oath Mr O’Farrell denied ever receiving the bottle as a gift. Then the anti-corruption watchdog was given the thank you note Mr O’Farrell had signed.

“I still can’t recall the receipt of a gift of a bottle of 1959 Grange, I can’t explain what happened to that bottle of wine,” Mr O’Farrell said in a statement on the Wednesday.

“But I do accept that there is a thank-you note signed by me and, as someone who believes in accountability, in responsibility, I accept the consequences of my action.”

Dr Bob Brown, the former leader of the Australian Greens had been with the party for 20 years.

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown

April 2012

Bob Brown’s resignation as leader of the Australian Greens in April 2012 came as a shock.

After 20 years as the Green’s leader — right from the party’s foundation in 1992 — the 67-year-old told his colleagues he was stepping down on the morning of April 13.

That afternoon he told reporters he was “very sad to go” but very happy to make way for new talent in the party.

Christine Milne succeeded Mr Brown as leader.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard left politics after losing a leadership challenge from Kevin Rudd. Picture: Ramage Gary

Prime Minister Julia Gillard

June 2013

Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s resignation didn’t exactly come as a bolt from the blue — she had vowed to quit politics if she lost a leadership challenge to Kevin Rudd.

But the nation’s shock at a second leadership challenge for Prime Minister in just three years is enough for her to get a notable mention high on the list.

Her departure also caused a dramatic ministry change.

Rugby star Mal Meninga had the shortest political career in Australian history: Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Rugby league star Mal Meninga

2001

Mal Meninga also gets an honourable mention here.

The Rugby league star had the shortest political career in history.

After starting to announce his run for politics in ACT he changed his mind part way through an interview with ABC radio.

Mr Meninga apologised to the host and left the studio.

Bob Carr quit as Labor Premier after 10 years. Picture: Colin Murty/The Australian

NSW Premier Bob Carr

July 2005

Bob Carr made his decision to quit as Premier of NSW over a bottle of wine the weekend before he made the announcement.

Mr Carr stepped down in 2005 after 10 years as Premier, quoting US President Abraham Lincoln on his way out saying he left with “malice for none and charity for all’’.

He told reporters he made the decision to step down over a bottle of chardonnay the weekend before his announcement and long discussions with his wife, Helena.

That wasn’t the end to his career in politics though. Mr Carr made a return by stepping in as Foreign Affairs Minister at the request of then Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Peter Beattie left politics to allow a new generation in. Picture Glenn Hampson

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie

September 2007

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie stepped down in 2007 to make way for new blood.

He had signalled his retirement earlier in the year but only told his deputy Anna Bligh the day before his resignation that he would be making an announcement the next day.

Geoff Gallop continues to contribute to public life in his own way. Heere he attended the 2020 Summit at Parliament House in Canberra.

WA Premier Geoff Gallop

2006

Geoff Gallop resigned as Premier of WA in early 2006 to recover from depression after five years in the job.

Mr Gallop was replaced by Alan Carpenter.

Family First senator Bob day leaves his office in Kent Town, Adelaide. Picture: Kelly Barnes/The Australian

Family First senator Bob Day

November 2016

Family First senator Bob Day effectively gave two weeks notice before he resigned his position at the end of last year.

The South Australian senator announced his retirement in November two weeks after his building business, the Home Australia group, went into administration.

Mr Day released a statement saying it had been an honour and a privilege to serve as a Senator for South Australia.

“I am sorry it has ended this way,” he said.

Sir Robert Menzies decided to ‘yield up his post’ after a long 32 years in the top job.

Sir Robert Menzies

January 1966

Sir Robert Menzies’ resignation on Australia Day in 1966 might have come as a shock to some.

But at age 71, and after 32 years in Parliament, most would have been expecting it.

The Prime Minister walked into a cabinet meeting that morning and told his colleagues that was it.

“Although it has become a good deal known, (I) wish to say I have, after much thought and even painful thought, (decided) to yield up my post,” Menzies said, according to Cabinet documents recently released by the National Archives of Australia.

“The alternative is to resign now or carry on through the next election and beyond,” he said.

“I feel (I can) come up to the big occasion but not so easily or so often as before.

“This being so, my time to go is now so that (a) new leader may have the better part of 12 months in order to exhibit his character and character of his government.”

Mr Menzies remains the last Prime Minister to resign from the post voluntarily.

Clive Palmer suddenly left politics early last year.

Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer

May 2016

Clive Palmer gets the last spot. His announcement that he was leaving politics came as a shock to pretty much no one.

The Palmer United Party founder ruled out running for his seat in the upper house at the 2016 federal election in May last year after his political party all but imploded.

Two out of his three senators had resigned to go independent and his Queensland Nickel refinery collapsed.

“I’m 62 years old,” Mr Palmer said on his resignation.

“I’ve got enough other assets in my life. I want to enjoy my life, play a bit of bowls and have a bit of fun.”