High Steaks: Mike Baird says ‘never say never’ about political comeback

Mike Baird, who will never rule out a political comeback, discusses his upcoming move to Melbourne and his strained friendship with Gladys Berejiklian.

Former premier Mike Baird says he doesn’t miss politics, but when asked this week to rule out a political comeback, he declares: “You never say never”.

The comment was made during a candid interview over lunch on his beloved northern beaches, during which nothing was off-limits, including the impact of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry on his friendship with his successor Gladys Berejiklian, and how former Labor premier Bob Carr called up to tell him to get “voice training”.

While we both love our steak, Baird has chosen to meet up in a cafe – Albert & Moore – in Freshwater on his beloved northern beaches.

There is a reason he has chosen to eat at one of his favourite post-surf, local haunts – we both order the $20 grilled chicken “superfood” salad – Baird drops the bombshell that he is moving to Melbourne.

The relocation, which will occur next year, is for his job with the Susan McKinnon Foundation – a not-for-profit policy foundation he joined as the chief executive officer in August.

Former NSW Premier Mike Baird sat down at Albert and Moore in Freshwater. Picture: Richard Dobson

It’s one of several roles he has – he is also the Cricket Australia chair – a job that he will keep, noting that his new unit is “not far from the MCG”.

“It’s a big shock to me,” Baird says of his decision to leave “the beaches”.

However, he and wife Kerryn will keep their family home in Sydney where they will return “at least one week a month” to see friends and family, including his grandson, seven-month-old Austin.

Of all the hats he has worn – investment banker, treasurer, party leader, head of HammondCare – it is obvious “Gramps” is his most important.

The father-of-three says he is still getting used to the idea.

“Many things in life you’re not prepared for, you know the theory, but when you sit there and hold your grandson, it’s a pretty amazing moment,” he says.

Manly MP James Griffin and Mike Baird going for a surf at Manly.

“I also look at my daughter (Cate) as a mum and it’s hard not to get emotional.

“She’s a fantastic mum so having your grandson and your daughter who’s now a mum, yes, you feel old, but it’s the beauty of that and the magic of that so it’s been a very special few months.”

Family was one of the reasons Baird gave after his shock resignation after just three years in the top job.

While acknowledging at the time that his government had endured tough times politically – after a public furore, Baird was forced to admit he had “got it wrong” on the greyhound racing ban – the health concerns he held for his family were “much tougher”, he said.

Mike Baird supported by his family after resigning from the top job and from politics. Family was one of the reasons Baird gave for his shock resignation. Picture: Dylan Robinson

There was also the impact of the job on his children, who were then still at school.

Baird becomes emotional recollecting how his son Luke became a prefect the day of cricketer Phillip Hughes funeral.

The school switched things around to ensure Baird could see at least part of the ceremony.

“My son became a prefect on the day of Phillip Hughes’ funeral, so you have those moments where the state and country, and indeed the world, was in mourning at the tragic loss,” he says.

“I’m good friends with (former cricketer) Steve O’Keefe. He was hurting. I was able to give him a hug at the funeral, which is important. To be there, representing so many from the state that want to be there.

“I spoke to the school. I was able to bring (Luke’s) his badge to the beginning, but it also meant that he came up by himself and then they did the full one at the end. I did feel that at a special moment I wasn’t present for him.”

Baird also recalls “drones circling around our house” and a radio show that “turned up with a megaphone” during his time as premier.

Grilled chicken “superfood” salad ordered by Mike Baird at Albert & Moore, Freshwater.

Upon quitting, Baird threw his support behind his “dear friend” Berejiklian, his deputy.

Not only were the pair close – a Liberal source says Baird once set up a blind date for her with a mate of his – but immensely competent.

It is no surprise that he declared he was “incredulous” to learn his close colleague had been in a five-year secret relationship with disgraced former MP Daryl Maguire during the corruption probe into whether she had breached the public trust or encouraged corrupt conduct during her time with the ex-Wagga Wagga MP.

Friends of Baird say the friendship with Berejiklian has never recovered – something that he continues to be sad about.

Friends say Mike Baird’ relationship with Gladys Berejiklian never recovered. Picture: AAP Image/Ben Rushton

Gladys Berejiklian greets former premier Mike Baird at the Liberal Party Launch in 2018. Picture: Chris Pavlich/The Australian

“I mean, look, I am,” he says.

“She’s a dear friend. Always has been. We’ve texted.

“Look, I understand the pain she’s in. She’s been through an incredibly tough event, and circumstances. I’ve got some understanding, but nothing like what she’s been through. I’ve got deep sympathy for that, and from my point of view, there will always be a place for her.”

Asked whether he thought Berejiklian – now an Optus executive – had gotten over the saga, Baird says he did not think so.

“I don’t think so,” he says. “That’s going to take a long time.”

Baird, who once toyed with the idea of becoming an Anglican minister, entered state politics in 2007 after winning the seat of Manly, becoming Treasurer after the Coalition defeated Labor in 2011.

He recalls some unsolicited advice he received from an opponent two weeks after the election.

“My phone rang and it was (former premier) Bob Carr,” he recalls.

“I had just done a press conference. He goes, ‘Mike, you need to get voice training’.”

Suffice to say, Baird didn’t heed the advice and his accent remains as broad as that first conference.

Unlike many political leaders who put on a public persona, the Baird you see is the Baird you get.

Journalist Linda Silmanis with former NSW premier Mike Baird. Picture: Richard Dobson

He says it was a conscious decision to “always to try and be yourself”.

His broad accent comes despite having spent several years in the US when his father Bruce was a trade commissioner at the Australian Consulate-General in New York in the late 1970s.

Baird says he loved his time in the US, especially attending a co-ed school.

Upon his family returning to Sydney – Bruce would later become a NSW MP – Baird was sent to The Kings School in Parramatta.

Kerryn and Mike Baird at the Project Sydney Dinner Gala held at the Bankstown Sports Club in Bankstown. Picture: Christian Gilles

The move was “challenging”.

In the US, he had been in the football team, the baseball team.

“I was very settled,” he says. “The adjustment was certainly a challenge.”

He also recalls the realisation that The Kings was “all boys”.

“I hadn’t clicked on to the fact that there were no girls there,” he says.

“I remember the first day I rolled in, I was looking around going, ‘there’s no girls’!”

While he loved his time at Kings, Baird says he remains a big supporter of co-ed schools.

Despite quitting politics, Baird is often touted within Liberal circles as the only person who could win back the seat of Warringah from “teal” independent Zali Steggall.

He says she is “beatable”.

“Every seat is winnable. It is winnable for the right candidate. I think any candidate is beatable so, yes, Zali is beatable.”

While he says is Liberal candidate Jaimee Rogers had every chance of being competitive “if not causing an upset”, he refuses to rule out a political comeback in the future.

He notes how he will still only be 59 in the federal election after this one.

Donald Trump is 78, he says.

“I’ve still got a while to go before I get to there,” he says.

It is “unlikely”, he says, but “you never say never.”

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Originally published as High Steaks: Mike Baird says ‘never say never’ about political comeback