The New South Wales Premier Mike Baird made the surprise announcement this morning that he would resign from politics halfway through his current term.
Throughout the Premier’s tenure he enjoyed a heated relationship with the local government sector of New South Wales after the councils were put through the Liberal government’s ‘Fit for the Future’ reform process and many faced much maligned forced amalgamations last year.
Mr Baird sighted family issues as a contributing factor to his decision to step aside from his ten-year career in politics.
President of Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Councillor Keith Rhoades said he admired the Premier’s honesty to discuss the toll public life can take.
“There can be no doubt that public life comes with a very real cost, and the outgoing Premier was today very open about that cost, especially in terms of the impact on family.
“On behalf of the entire local government sector, I would like to extend best wishes for the future not only to Mike Baird, but to his immediate and extended family.”
Cr Rhoades tempered these comments with references to the association’s staunch opposition to Premier Baird’s forced amalgamations.
“While our sector and the Baird Government have not always agreed on the best way to get there, I commend Mr Baird for recognising and publicly acknowledging the need to reset and refresh the Government.
“It is true there have been many policy challenges – whether that be forced council amalgamations or the greyhounds ban or lockout laws or WestConnex – and Mr Baird is right about how important it is to bring the community with you.
“LGNSW looks forward to working with the Government’s new leadership team to achieve the best possible outcomes for the community, but that is a matter for next week.”
Some council amalgamations are still pending after legal challenges from impacted councils.
Mosman Council Mayor Peter Abelson responded to the Premier’s announcement by urging the yet-to-be appointed successor to reconsider the NSW Government’s plans to amalgamate Mosman with North Sydney and Willoughby Councils.
“Premier Baird has provided positive leadership for NSW with great personal integrity in many key areas. I applaud his financial management and his economic achievements for the state of NSW,” Mayor Abelson said.
“But forced council amalgamations against strong community opposition is a major error and we would urge the next leader to reconsider continuing with this unpopular program.
“I urge our State Government counterparts, who until now seem to have had no emotional understanding of these deep feelings, to take stock and revisit this important issue.”
