The Reaction To Mike Baird’s Surprise Resignation Is Just As Savage As You’d Expect
In case you were wondering, no, we haven't run out of lockout jokes.
This morning Mike Baird shocked NSW by announcing he was resigning as Premier and quitting politics for good.
Baird said that he had reflected on the “approaching halfway mark of our current term of government” and “decided that this is the perfect time for me to hand the reins over to a new Premier.”
Except that it came totally out of the blue and even his own deputy found out through the media. But yep, other than that it was perfect timing.
At a press conference today Baird said it was time for the Liberal Party to “refresh and reset goals for the 2019 election”. The decision has come as a surprise but Baird said a number of family health issues over the past few months had forced him to reconsider his political life.
“My father has gone through open heart surgery… My mother has just gone to 24-hour care… that’s very tough to watch as a son,” he said.
NSW Premier @mikebairdmp shares personal reasons for retiring, including not being there for his family as they fought health issues #nswpol pic.twitter.com/zsRYPyYO1r
— ABC News 24 (@ABCNews24) January 18, 2017
Baird’s resignation means NSW has not seen a premier serve a full a term since Bob Carr resigned in 2005.
He cited his infrastructure program, economic policies and commitment to Gonski school funding as key achievements, but many voters will probably view his legacy through the impact of the lockout laws, WestConnex, privatisations and cuts to women’s refuges.
Most recently Baird’s been copping criticism for backing down on his greyhound racing ban after persistent lobbying from radio shock jock Alan Jones.
BREAKING – NSW PREMIER MIKE BAIRD ANNOUNCES RETURN TO POLITICS AFTER MEETING WITH ALAN JONES
— John Johnsonson (@JohnJohnsonson) January 18, 2017
Remember when Mike Baird live tweeted The Bachelor last year and it felt like he could literally never lose an election?
— Sam Regester (@samregester) January 18, 2017
Happier times :'(
M8 why you tearing up about a job you've had for 3 years? I spent longer at Pizza Hutt, I just had some potato gems & got on with it
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) January 18, 2017
I guess Mike Baird figured that now Sydney is dead, his work is done.
— Andrew P Street (@AndrewPStreet) January 18, 2017
So it's the greyhounds, not what was done to women's refuges, that led to Baird's fall in popularity. Isn't politics grand?
— Chip Rolley (@ChipRolley) January 18, 2017
Shocked to hear Mike Baird has extended the lockout to his own office.
— Colley (@JamColley) January 18, 2017
I urge the NSW Libs to do the right thing & roll Mike Baird ahead of his resignation date next week. No Australian leader deserves to retire
— elle hardy (@ellehardytweets) January 18, 2017
Mike Baird had become a lightning rod for dissatisfaction with state government decisions (even the ones that predated him, like the lockouts and WestConnex motorway), particularly amongst young people, so it’s not surprising to see people lay into him on Twitter.
But some people think making jokes about his resignation is in poor taste, given his family’s health issues.
In all seriousness, Mike Baird really sounds like he’s going through it with his family right now.
— Luke Hopewell ⚡️ (@lukehopewell) January 18, 2017
All those tweets joke-speculating about Baird's resignation are looking extremely bad right now
— Kemal Atlay (@kemal_atlay) January 18, 2017
The Liberal party will meet next week to decide on a replacement. The smart money is on current treasurer Gladys Berejiklian to take the reigns, but because this is NSW politics nothing is ever simple.
Once the leader is elected they’re probably going to take a few weeks to reorganise their ministry, so it could be quite a while before we find out if there’s going to be any major policy changes.