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Live: NSW Premier Mike Baird retires, Gladys Berejiklian to contest leadership

James Robertson and Eryk Bagshaw
Updated ,first published

Berejiklian set to be elected leader after factions swing behind her

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Mike Baird has declared Gladys Berejiklian would be "an outstanding Premier" as she prepares to become only the second woman to hold the job in NSW, reports the Herald's State Political Editor Sean Nicholls.

"No doubt about it," Mr Baird said of the NSW Treasurer on Thursday after his shock announcement that he will quit politics next week.

"She's been outstanding. Incredibly loyal, hardworking, did a first-class job in transport and treasury. She, if given the privilege of the support of the party room, would make an outstanding Premier."

Ms Berejiklian is set to be elected leader when the Liberal party room meets at 10am on Monday.

Mr Berejiklian, who is with the party's left faction, will form a ticket with the right's finance minister Dominic Perrottet to become deputy Liberal leader.

'Your time is now. You go, girl'

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Five reasons why it's time for Gladys Berejiklian from Fairfax columnist Jenna Price.

1. Her time really is now. She was a strong contender when O'Farrell stepped down but the numbers didn't stack up.

2. This is not about how women are better than men – no need to remind us of Margaret Thatcher or Pauline Nyiramasuhuko

3. She's no social conservative. Even a Labor member of NSW Parliament describes her work on reproductive rights as excellent.

4. She has an unpronounceable surname. Think that's trivial? She's in a party filled with straight white men with straight white names and those people don't represent us anymore.

A brief timeline of Baird's premiership

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April 2014: Elected as 44th Premier of NSW, after Barry O'Farrell steps down over a $3,000 bottle of Penfold's Grange.

September 2014: Protests over NSW lockout laws build as businesses feel the pinch.

December 2014: 10 civilians are taken hostage in Sydney's Lindt Café

March 2015: Baird wins a second term with a smaller majority

June 2016: The NSW economy and the state's coffers look on the up with no net debt.

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Gladys Berejiklian: 'I would like to make it clear I will be standing'

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When the Liberal party room meets on Monday at 10am, NSW Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian will be standing for premier, she has confirmed.

Ms Berejiklian said she is "deeply saddened" by Mike Baird's decision to retire from politics.

"Mike has been an inspiring leader and a man of enormous integrity who has left an outstanding and indelible mark on the state of NSW," she said.

"On a personal note, he has been a great leader and friend. I have been proud to work with him for six years in the ministry and for three of those as his Deputy."

Ms Berejiklian said she would be standing to become the 45th Premier of NSW.

"Today is Mike's day – but I would like to make it clear that I will be standing for the leadership," she said.

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Treasurer Gladys Berijiklian in the Premier's office Wolter Peeters

Winners and losers

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The Herald's Jacob Saulwick and Harriet Alexander have compiled this list on who's likely to be on the inner and outer circles of a future Liberal government, likely to take shape next week.

Rob Stokes

If Rob Stokes was to move from the planning portfolio, it might be, in Mike Baird's estimation, a loss for the area. According to Baird, there may never have been "a planning minister more credentialled in the history of this country" than the planning law PhD holding Stokes.

Possibly Berejiklian's main contender, if Stokes does not claim the leadership he's likely to stay in planning.

Andrew Constance

Bishop hopes Baird's resignation will put an end to the march of socialism

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The former speaker of the House of Representatives, Bronwyn Bishop, has told Sky News she hopes Mr Baird's resignation will put an end to socialism's influence in the Liberal party.

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Ms Bishop has used socialists as somewhat of a punching bag on her appearances on Sky News recently, blaming them for the resignation of former Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley over an expenses scandal.

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Greens take aim at Baird

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NSW Greens MPs have issued a joint statement wishing the Premier well in retirement but condemning his decisions on biodiversity, lockout laws, greyhound racing, forced amalgamations, tree destruction, public education, privatisation and police powers.

They took particular aim at the government's WestConnex project which has been met with widespread protests over forced aquisitions and environmental concerns.

"The concerted community action against the Premier's dirty WestConnex tollroad certainly seems to have taken its toll on Mr Baird," they said in a statement.

"Opposition to this project is widespread and growing daily and whoever follows Baird as Premier should immediately set up an independent review to look at better options."

WestConnex has been highly controversial in Sydney's inner west.Peter Rae

Why the NSW premier's departure is bad news for Malcolm Turnbull

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Mike Baird has done a Steve Bracks, Malcolm Turnbull has lost a crucial ally and the Australian political landscape will be much poorer for the shock departure of the New South Wales premier.

Baird joins the most exclusive club of Australian leaders: those who jump before their colleagues or the voters decide their time is up. The surprise is that he has done it so soon.

No wonder South Australia's Labor Premier Jay Weatherill tweeted "say it aint so" as soon as he heard the news. Weatherill said Baird's advocacy within the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) would be a huge loss and he is dead right.

Read Michael Gordon's reasons for why the Premier's departure is bad news for the Prime Minister here.

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Skinner backs Gladys Berejiklian

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NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner has reportedly backed Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian to be the next premier of NSW.

The veteran politician, who is under pressure to hold onto her health portfolio in the looming reshuffle, told the Mosman Daily that she regarded herself as "a bit of a mentor for Gladys."

"I make no secret I am supporting Gladys Berejiklian, I always have done," Ms Skinner said.

"She's really got her head screwed on. She understands the importance of the economics of the state but also all of the things I'm involved in."

Ms Skinner has also sent out a formal release welcoming new Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt since Mr Baird's resignation.

A spokeswoman said the pair had a "commitment to work together".

Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Jillian Skinner make an announcement about the St George Hospital redevelopment. Chris Lane CLA
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The social media Premier

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Poles and wires, light rail, WestConnex, they might be the signature infrastructure projects of the state's 44th Premier, but he's likely to also be remembered for his social media prowess.

True to form, he found his way around the mainstream print and broadcast media on Thursday and straight into the social media feeds of his constituents.

Here's a selection of a few of his other clangers or zingers, depending on which way you swing.

Tweeting The Bachelor - a winner on most counts.

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