Premier Mike Baird resigns

NSW Premier Mike Baird has explained his shock decision to retire, choking up while describing his personal agony.

Mike Baird has announced he is retiring from politics. Picture Kym Smith

CLOSE to tears, New South Wales Premier Mike Baird has revealed the ill health of his parents and sister contributed to his shock decision to resign.

Mr Baird unexpectedly released a statement on Twitter this morning saying that after 10 years in politics, he had decided to retire from public life.

At a media conference in Sydney soon after, an emotional Mr Baird said the demands of his job meant he had not been able to spend as much time with his sick parents and sister as he would have liked.

“There is a strong personal cost that comes in public life,” he said.

“I’ve probably felt that more than any other time in the past few months.

“My father and my mother and my sister are going through a very serious health challenge and, to be honest, at times I have been in pain not being able to spend the time that I should.”

NSW Premier Mike Baird speaks during a press conference announcing his retirement from politics. Picture: Paul Miller / AAP

The Liberal Party will elect a new leader, and new premier of the state, at a party room meeting next week, Mr Baird said.

“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,” he said.

Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian has been tipped as his likely successor, but Mr Baird declined to be drawn on his replacement, saying it was a matter for the party room.

The man whose once-enviable popularity saw him tipped as a future prime minister all but ruled out a move to the federal arena, adamant that his decision to stand down was his retirement from politics.

Thank you, NSW. pic.twitter.com/DQYP1ZnV38

— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) January 19, 2017

Like many politicians, Mr Baird said he had been courted by the private sector, which he said he intended to enter in the wake of his retirement, though not immediately.

He said his first priority following his departure was to spend more time with his family.

His wife Kerryn and three children Laura, Kate and Luke, attended the media conference.

“Now, I want to spend time with the family and yes, in the long term, I will be working elsewhere,” he said.

“I don’t know what that is. I’m retiring from politics. I have spoken with the Prime Minister this morning.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull tweeted his tribute to Mr Baird, along with a picture of the two of them.

He later released a statement, paying tribute to his, “great innings” as premier.

Thank you @mikebairdMP - you have set NSW on track to lead and succeed in the 21st century. Great innings magnificently played. pic.twitter.com/ZuBebLyqG6

— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) January 18, 2017

Mr Baird said he had decided it was “the perfect time to hand over to a new premier”.

His resignation from parliament will take effect immediately after the new premier is chosen.

While he oversaw a wealth of policies, such as the greyhound ban, council amalgamations and lockout laws, that saw his popularity plummet, ultimately, it was his family that provided the “full stop” to his decision to resign.

“The past few months ... people talk about it being tough and, yes, there were some policy issues, but that was much tougher. That was much tougher,” he said of his family’s health woes. “You know, my father has gone through open-heart surgery. He’s got a long road back to recovery, but he had become the primary career for my mother and she’s just gone to 24-hour care.

“She’s got muscular dystrophy. She is losing function in everything, basically.

“It’s very tough to watch as a son.

“My sister’s had a recurrence of cancer. So I was in hospital with her last week.

“You know, those personal things obviously impact you and the nature of this job makes it tough to be able to support as much as you want.”

Mr Baird’s sister, respected journalist, author and commentator Julia Baird, tweeted her support for her brother.

Proud of you bro. @mikebairdMP pic.twitter.com/4juPWCQL0U

— Julia Baird (@bairdjulia) January 19, 2017

Baird’s statement, released without warning via Twitter, apparently came as a shock to all in political circles.

There appeared no inkling the shock resignation was coming on Thursday morning and even his deputy, John Barilaro, was not forewarned the announcement was coming.

He found out when media contacted him for comment.

One person who did receive prior warning, however, was Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Shortly after Mr Baird’s Sydney press conference, the prime minister released a statement paying tribute to his Liberal Party colleague.

“Thank you, Mike, for your leadership of New South Wales,” he said.

“Your state — our state — and the nation owe you a great debt.

“You’ve restored the state’s finances and you are building the infrastructure that sets New South Wales up for the 21st century economy.

“You’ve played a great innings and we thank you for it.”

Tributes quickly flowed from both sides of politics.

Best wishes for the future @mikebairdMP It was a pleasure working with you.

— AnnastaciaPalaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) January 18, 2017

I wish my mate @mikebairdMP and Kerryn and family all the very best.

A great bloke, great to deal with and an outstanding Premier of NSW.

— Joe Hockey (@JoeHockey) January 18, 2017

A strong leader who leaves behind a great legacy for NSW - thank you @mikebairdMP for your service #nswpol https://t.co/G6O6Jf6UtT

— John Barilaro MP (@JohnBarilaroMP) January 19, 2017

Good to work with @mikebairdMP over the last few years. Wishing him and his family all the best for the future.

— Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) January 18, 2017

Mr Baird, 48, became NSW premier less than three years ago, in April 2014, assuming the leadership role after Barry O’Farrell’s shock resignation.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

His departure will prompt a by-election in the Sydney seat of Manly, which he has held since 2007.

“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,” he said.

I'm retiring from politics. It's been an honour to serve you, NSW. pic.twitter.com/eFInOqoC19

— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) January 18, 2017

A devout Christian, Melbourne-born Mr Baird initially intended to pursue a future in the Anglican Ministry, but had a change of heart while preparing to enter the clergy.

Mr Baird began his professional career as an investment banker and had his first crack at politics in 1999.

The Sydney-based banker missed out on preselection for the seat of Manly and returned to the finance industry before successfully claiming the seat in the 2007 state election.

Mr Baird quickly rose through the Liberal Party ranks. He was promoted to shadow treasurer in 2008, and became treasurer in 2011 with the election of the Liberal government led by Barry O’Farrell.

NSW Premier Mike Baird announces his retirement at a press conference at his Sydney office on Thursday. Picture: Mark Evans

It was in 2014, following Mr O’Farrell’s resignation that Baird was elected unopposed as leader of the NSW Liberal Party, and became premier.

In the early stages of his premiership, Mr Baird enjoyed record popularity levels.

The charismatic young premier enjoyed an extended honeymoon period, which saw him pardoned by the public over controversial policies like the sale of NSW’s electricity assets.

He was even praised for advocating for causes that put him at odds with his Canberra colleagues, like doling out concessions to asylum seekers.

Mr Baird adopted a “daggy dad” image on social media, and embraced an audience of young fans for it.

But his tenure took a sharp turn in the second half of 2016 when his satisfaction rating fell by 46 points according to Newspoll — the biggest his any premier has taken in the poll’s history.

It was the introduction of Sydney’s tough lockout laws that largely contribution to his downturn in popularity, along with the exclusion of certain venues to the crackdown like the city’s Star casino. This also earnt him the deriding nickname “Casino Mike”.

A kneejerk move to shut down the state’s greyhound racing industry, and subsequent backflip, also significantly contributed to the fall.