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| Mike Baird and Andrew Constance in Newcastle in December. [Picture: Simone De Peak/The Herald] |
State Transport minister Andrew Constance has named in the running to succeed Premier Mike Baird after he announced his resignation on Thursday morning.
Mr Baird made the announcement, citing the current health of his close family members, and being content with what his government has achieved as the main reasons for retirement.
“I said many times I didn’t want to become a career politician; I wanted to go as hard as I could for as long as I could, and then step aside,” he said.
During a press conference on Thursday, Mr Baird listed what he considered were the main achievements of the Liberal party since it entered government in 2011.
Being the first state to sign up to the Gonski needs-based school funding was singled out as particularly important for “getting our kids set up” regardless of where they came from.
Particular emphasis was also put on the changes to transport, including the Newcastle light rail, which Mr Baird said would drastically change the landscape of the city.
Mr Baird became Premier in 2014, after former Premier, Barry O’Farrell was forced to resign over political gifts.
Mr Baird said he entered politics to get stuff done, and he now believes he has.
“When I set out on the journey I was frustrated on why New South Wales was behind the rest of the country,” he said.
“I was frustrated that nothing ever got built, and I wanted to make a difference.
“As I look on that now I strongly believe that we have. We have made a difference.”
The Liberal Party will meet to elect a new Premier and deputy Liberal leader next week, with Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian and Transport minister Andrew Constance on the shortlist to succeed Mr Baird.
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| Mike Baird when he announced his retirement on Thursday [Picture:ABC] |
Mr Constance was heavily involved in the construction of the Newcastle light rail.
In April, Mr Constance told Novocastrians they should embrace the future possibilities the light rail can bring.
“The light rail project will facilitate and open up enormous opportunities as part of the activation of the city,” he said.
“Not only is the [the Transport for Newcastle mandate] the integration of the transport modes, but it’s also bringing in the pedestrian and cycling access.”
The popularity of Mr Baird began to drop after a laundry list of policies and plans by the state government were refused by the electorates.
The Nationals Party lost their stronghold of Orange during a by-election last year, which saw a 20-point lead wiped out and a member from the Shooters and Fishers Party being elected to the lower house.
It has been widely agreed that Mr Baird's insistence on the banning of greyhound racing across the state led to the defeat.
Council amalgamations were another widely-panned decision by the Baird Government, which wreaked havoc on
Hunter councils.
Port Stephens Council is yet to know if it will be forced to merge with Newcastle Council, or if it can merge with their preferred choice of Dungog Council.
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| Mike Baird visited Newcastle in December. [Picture: Ian Crouch] |
Mr Baird remained confident that council amalgamations were a good thing.
“Council amalgamations, I strongly believe, will deliver long-term benefits for every member of New South Wales. It will provide huge opportunities and much more competitiveness into the long-term,” he said.
When asked on Thursday whether he will return to the private sector, Mr Baird did not rule it out.
