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Mike Baird poised to take over as premier of NSW Mike Baird poised to take over as premier of NSW
(35 minutes later)
The New South Wales treasurer, Mike Baird, is poised to be elected state premier at a party-room meeting scheduled for 3pm on Thursday. The New South Wales treasurer, Mike Baird, has announced that he will run for the state leadership in a party-room meeting scheduled for Thursday at 3pm, and urged parliamentary Liberals to elect the transport minister, Gladys Berejiklian, as his deputy.
Baird and the transport minister, Gladys Berejiklian, emerged as the leading contenders on Wednesday, though the minister for family and community services, Pru Goward, was also considered an outside chance. In a joint statement, the two ministers said: “We are contesting the leadership and deputy leadership of the NSW Liberal party, with Mike Baird to become leader. We strongly encourage our colleagues to support this decision this afternoon.”
Supporters of Berejiklian and Baird worked the phones overnight to sound out support. The numbers reportedly favour Berejiklian but the two are believed to be trying to hammer out a consensus to spare the party room a damaging faceoff. Baird is virtually guaranteed to be elected NSW premier on Thursday afternoon, but the deputy leadership of the party is still hotly contested.
Despite her slight advantage, reports suggest that Berejiklian has decided not to contest the ballot, leaving the path clear for Baird to become the state’s next leader. The minister for family and community services, Pru Goward, has also announced she will nominate for the position, but the party’s influential right faction reportedly favours its own candidate, the energy minister, Anthony Roberts, for the role.
Berejiklian is reportedly vying with Goward for the deputy leadership, but the right faction is expected to back their own candidate, the energy minister, Anthony Roberts, for the job. It is understood that Roberts has the numbers, but is under pressure from colleagues to support the Baird-Berejiklian unity ticket.
Baird’s father, Bruce, was a minister in the Howard government. The treasurer, who represents Manly, is considered a centrist but his professed Christianity and conservative social views – he opposes same-sex marriage and adoption by gay couples – have endeared him to the party’s right.Baird’s father, Bruce, was a minister in the Howard government. The treasurer, who represents Manly, is considered a centrist but his professed Christianity and conservative social views – he opposes same-sex marriage and adoption by gay couples – have endeared him to the party’s right.
Jostling for the leadership began almost immediately after Barry O’Farrell announced he would be leaving the top job, after a hand-written note emerged proving he had received a bottle of 1959 Penfolds Grange from the former chief executive of Australian Water Holdings Nick Di Girolamo.Jostling for the leadership began almost immediately after Barry O’Farrell announced he would be leaving the top job, after a hand-written note emerged proving he had received a bottle of 1959 Penfolds Grange from the former chief executive of Australian Water Holdings Nick Di Girolamo.
Under oath on Tuesday, O’Farrell had repeatedly denied ever receiving the wine from the businessman, who is at the centre of a corruption inquiry into the attempt by AWH to secure a lucrative public-private partnership to build water infrastructure in Sydney’s north-west.Under oath on Tuesday, O’Farrell had repeatedly denied ever receiving the wine from the businessman, who is at the centre of a corruption inquiry into the attempt by AWH to secure a lucrative public-private partnership to build water infrastructure in Sydney’s north-west.
Baird is not entirely free of links to Di Girolamo. In June 2012 he appointed the AWH chief executive to a $34,000 a year position on the board of the State Water Corporation.Baird is not entirely free of links to Di Girolamo. In June 2012 he appointed the AWH chief executive to a $34,000 a year position on the board of the State Water Corporation.
Documents obtained by the state Greens MP John Kaye show the businessman was ranked poorly by a panel assessing him for a similar role on the board of the Sydney Ports Corporation. The panel said he did “not have relevant industry experience” and had legal experience only in “relatively narrow areas of practice”.Documents obtained by the state Greens MP John Kaye show the businessman was ranked poorly by a panel assessing him for a similar role on the board of the Sydney Ports Corporation. The panel said he did “not have relevant industry experience” and had legal experience only in “relatively narrow areas of practice”.
A spokesman for Baird told the ABC that the documents were no proof of a “jobs for the boys” appointment, and that the Liberal fundraiser had been appointed to the board on merit based on the advice of an independent panel.A spokesman for Baird told the ABC that the documents were no proof of a “jobs for the boys” appointment, and that the Liberal fundraiser had been appointed to the board on merit based on the advice of an independent panel.