It was a telling moment.
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Following the resignation announcement of Premier a statement was issued.
“I am deeply saddened that Mike Baird has announced his decision to retire from politics,” Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian said in part in her statement.
“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. Mike’s leadership has made NSW the economic and infrastructure powerhouse of the nation.
“His compassion has also ensured a better quality of life for those most vulnerable. 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.
“Today is Mike’s day – but I would like to make it clear that I will be standing for the leadership.”
The Treasurer will almost certainly become the New South Wales’ second female premier.
The Liberal Party will hold a meeting on Monday and elect a new leader to replace Mike Baird on Tuesday.
During his press conference on Thursday Premier Baird was very thorough in talking about his government’s economic achievements and the Treasurer has played a vital role in that.
Ms Berejiklian is the daughter of Armenian migrants and a granddaughter of victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide.
The former Commonwealth Bank executive’s story and rise to political prominence is an amazing one.
Others in the NSW Liberal Party may consider themselves candidates, but the Treasurer’s credentials are unquestioned.
It’s fair to say, while coming from a high base, 2016 was a tough year for the NSW Baird Government.
In its favour is the fact it now has two years to steady the ship before the next state election.
Premier Baird spoke of revitalising the party during his media conference and time will tell now as to whether the newly elected Premier can regain the faith of the public lost over the last 12 months.
Taking the same approach won’t achieve that though and some things are going to have to change if the NSW Government wants to re-establish its dominance ahead of the 2019 elections. It seems 2017 will be an interesting year.