Premier Baird Retires From NSW Politics

NSW Premier Mike Baird made a surprise announcement via social media this morning that he will retire from politics following a meeting of the Liberal party-room next week.

In a media release attached to his Twitter statement, the Premier stated that the reason for his decision is the fact the policy agenda he took to the 2015 election is now successfully in train, with the State’s budget in surplus and the largest infrastructure agenda in NSW history being implemented.

The Premier said, “As I have reflected on the approaching halfway mark of our current term government, and the opportunity it presents to refresh the Cabinet team, I have decided that this is the perfect time for me to hand over the reins to a new Premier.”

“[T]he 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.”

The Premier’s resignation is not entirely unsurprising; it has been rumoured for some time that he may retire from politics before the 2019 state election. However, the timing of the resignation has caught many off-guard, with some high profile commentators noting there had been no indication of the decision before this morning’s announcement.

A leadership spill will be held and a new Premier will be chosen at next week’s party room meeting, while a by-election will also have to be held in the Premier’s electorate of Manly, which he has represented since 2007.

The Premier will hold a press conference at 10am.

Further Information
For further information about the NSW Government in 2017, please contact Ian Hancock on (02) 9223 0311 or via email: ih@premierstate.net.