UPDATE
Cronulla MP and Environment Minister Mark Speakman spoke in glowing terms of Mike Baird’s integrity and his contribution to the state.
“I’m shocked by Mike’s announcement and wish he and his family well,” Mr Speakman said.
“I can’t think of a more honest, ethical person I’ve ever met in politics.
“He’s led the transformation of NSW from the weakest economy in Australia to the strongest; wiped out the state’s net debt; improved frontline services with over 11,000 extra nurses, midwives, hospital doctors and teachers; and seen NSW well on the way to fixing the infrastructure backlog, with a doubling of state-funded spending.”
Mr Speakman could emerge a winner from the cabinet shake-up that will follow.
He has proved very capable in the Environment portfolio, but could be given a more senior job.
Mr Speakman has also been assistant Planning Minister, and could take the main role in that area if it is vacated by Rob Stokes, who is considered a possible challenger to Gladys Berejiklian as Mr Baird’s successor.
Mr Speakman also has a strong legal background – he is a senior counsel – and has previously expressed a strong interest in education.
WestCONnex Action Group welcomed Mr Baird’s departure.
“Mike Baird’s premiership has been defined by his utter failure to listen to communities, experts and even his own colleagues, and WestCONnex is no exception,” said spokeswoman Rhea Liebmann.
Ms Liebmann said, “as Mr Baird prepares to spend more time with his family, his unfair forced acquisitions, brutal use of riot police during peaceful WestCONnex protests and heartless community destruction has left thousands of families across Sydney devastated”.
EARLIER
Mike Baird’s shock decision to resign as Premier and leave Parliament did not come as a surprise to Labor MP for Rockdale, Steve Kamper.
Mr Kamper believed Mr Baird was thinking of his family.
At his press conference, Mr Baird cited family pressures, including health issues affecting his mum, dad and sister as one of the main reasons for his resignation.
Mr Kamper said, “I spoke to Mike a few weeks before the end of last year and you could tell from his body language, because he is a genuine, open sort of guy who expresses his emotions.
“I thought he might rethink and re-set over the Christmas break, but his decision was to go.
”While I didn’t always agree with what he was doing, I have a great deal of respect for him as a person and a politician.
“It was probably a good time for him to pull the pin, as he’d become a bit out of touch with his policy on the run approach to issues such as council amalgamations, greyhound racing, cuts to TAFE and his aggressive privatisation agenda.
“I wish Mike and his family good health, happiness and all the best in the future.”
Liberal MP for Heathcote, Lee Evans said Mr Baird had “steered our state in the right direction”.
“Without his leadership, first in Treasury then as Premier, we would not be leading the commonwealth in all indicators,” he said.
“As well as financial but also in community, our state can introduce NDIS (national disability insurance scheme) and support Gonski (education reforms) due to his stewardship and skills with the NSW economy.
“I consider him as a friend and respect his decision.”
Labor MP for Kogarah, Chris Minns, said, “I didn't agree with every policy Mike Baird pursued but in my opinion he approached public life with integrity and I personally found him to be charming and friendly when the cameras weren't rolling.
“I wish him the best for the future."
Liberal MP for Oatley Mark Coure thanked Mr Baird “for his outstanding work and commitment to the people of NSW”.
“Since becoming Premier in 2014 Mike has been a man of vision and action,” he said.
“In the St George area we are witnesses to this with the redevelopment of St George Hospital, the massive infrastructure projects including WestConnex, King Georges Road Interchange, widening of the M5 and accessibility upgrades to Oatley and Narwee train stations.
“Mike and his team have made the NSW economy number one again but more importantly his values and beliefs have ensured that the vulnerable amongst us have a voice and opportunity in our community.
“I thank Mike for his leadership and friendship and wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”
Secretary of Georges River Environmental Alliance, Sharyn Cullis, said, "Mike Baird is a charismatic person, who certainly demonstrated that he could get things done, but...
“It is a pity that his government has shown so little respect for environmental quality, biodiversity and the importance of public land.
“His infrastructure projects could have been tweaked to avoid destroying valuable stands of majestic urban trees.
“His changes to biodiversity laws state-wide will lead to species extinctions.
“Recent law changes that will allow private profits in crown land reserves sound dangerous.
“The positives of his government for the environment have been the removal of CSG licences in drinking water catchments, and container deposit legislation."