NSW Premier Mike Baird promises to restore trust in the Liberal Party
Mike Baird and Gladys Berejiklian have been officially sworn in as the next premier and deputy leader of the NSW Liberal Party.
The newly elected NSW Premier paid tribute to his predecessor, Barry O'Farrell, who resigned yesterday after he misled a corruption inquiry over a $3000 bottle of wine.
Baird said "we are shocked and saddened about the events of the last 48 hours", but promised to restore trust, and to "transform" the state of New South Wales.
"What is challenging for any government is when you lose the trust of the community," he said.
The former state treasurer called Mr O'Farrell a "man of integrity" and said he did "a very noble" thing in stepping down, but will still serve as a local member for Ku-ring-gai.
"He is someone who is in incredible spirits despite events," Baird said.
Mike Baird told reporters that the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is doing exactly what it should.
"Anything corrupt it will shine the torch on it and throw it out."
The first opinion poll since Mr O'Farrell's resignation found he did the right thing.
The exclusive ReachTel-7News poll conducted last night asked whether voters believe Barry o'Farrell should have resigned, 46 percent said yes, 34 percent no, and nearly 20 percent were undecided.
Sixty-five percent supported Mike Baird against 34 percent for Gladys Berejikian.
On possible division within the Liberal Party, Mike Baird said that he and incumbent deputy Gladys Berejiklian were elected unopposed.
He spoke exclusively to 7News this morning, and said that maintaining unity within the Liberal Party will be a top priority.
"[It's] been a hallmark of what we'd been about the past few years, we want to maintain that unity," he told State Political reporter Lee Jeloscek. "It's important for the state, it's important for the Government.
"There isn't someone in this state who wouldn't want that job [the premiership] and that privilege."
However, Ms Berejiklian did have some competition, with Community Services Minister Pru Goward confirming her plans to nominate for the Liberal deputy leader role.
"Yesterday was a terrible day for NSW. We lost one of our best premiers and a man who had been able to turn this state around," she told reporters outside the state parliament in Sydney.
"There are a lot of discussions going on today.
"There are a number of possible contenders and I'm not going to speculate on any of them except to say that I will be nominating for the deputy leadership at this stage," Ms Goward said.
Shortly before 1pm, rumours were swirling in the halls of state parliament that Ms Goward would formally withdraw from the race for deputy leader.
The Prime Minister is a close friend of Baird's, they work together, surf together and even holiday together.
Tony Abbott issued a statement to congratulate the newly elected leaders.
"I have known Mike for many years and I know he will discharge his responsibilities with integrity and honour," he said.
"So, too, I congratulate the Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP on becoming the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in NSW."
Health Minister Jillian Skinner stepped down today, and put her support behind Gladys Berejiklian as her replacement.
"She is an enormously talented minister who is making a huge contribution to the NSW Government."
“I commend both Mike Baird and Gladys Berejiklian for announcing their joint bid to contest the NSW Liberal Party leadership, thereby ensuring a seamless transition."
At Thursday's meeting, Liberal MPs formally accepted Mr O'Farrell's resignation and confirmed the new premier.
Mr Baird will become the state's 44th premier and its sixth in almost 10 years.
Mr O'Farrell had previously named Ms Berejiklian, one of the key leaders of the party's Left faction, as the best candidate to succeed him.
But Mr Baird had the backing of Right faction MPs, who have been impressed with his aggressive push to privatise the state's assets and boost the economy.
Mr Baird is the son of Bruce Baird, who was a lower house federal MP in John Howard's government, and represents the northern beaches electorate of Manly.
Ms Berejiklian is the daughter of Armenian immigrants and holds the north shore electorate of Willoughby.
She entered the political scene as president of the Young Liberals and went on to become one of the better performing ministers in the O'Farrell government, managing the tough transport portfolio.
A ministerial reshuffle will be on the cards, but in line with a coalition agreement, the role of deputy premier will still be held by Nationals MP Andrew Stoner.
