Robert Borsak welcomes the retirement of Premier Mike Baird

, MLC Robert Borsak has welcomed the resignation of NSW Premier Mike Baird in a statement released on Thursday afternoon.

Borsak has firmly opposed many of Baird's policies, one of which was the NSW greyhound racing ban announced in July 2016.

Despite public backlash forcing him to backflip on the ban, Borsak has still made his disdain for several Baird government decisions made abundantly clear.

's retirement is welcomed by the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party,” Borsak said.

“While we have generally supported this Government's mandate over the last few years, what we are now witnessing is the culmination of a number of very bad decisions.

“Those decisions relating to the of poles and wires which could have been handled differently, forced council amalgamations, the banning of the greyhound racing industry, and now the theft of crown lands in New South Wales is what has ultimately cost Mike Baird his job.

“We have always opposed these policies, and with the election of Philip Donato MP in late last year, the Premier's retirement is a continuation of a major change in New South Wales politics.”

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NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley also spoke out in regards to Baird's resignation, stating his retirement from politics will not change the opposition's role moving forward.

“I think the job for me and my team hasn't changed – to hold this government to account. This government needs more than a new premier – it needs a new direction,” Foley said.

“I want to thank Mike Baird for his service to NSW – to serve as the Premier for Australia's largest state is the greatest of honours. He has worked as Premier and as Treasurer of NSW – today we reflect that Mr Baird has rendered service to NSW life.

“I want to wish Mike Baird and his lovely family all the best for the future.”

Treasurer and Deputy Leader of the NSW Party Gladys Berejiklian is expected to become the next Premier of NSW, with a party room meeting set to confirm her appointment early next week.

She has been installed as the $1.30 favourite to replace Mike Baird with leading online bookmaker .

“According to the betting, the job is Gladys Berejiklian's to lose and she will be a clear winner in the spill,” said Sportsbet.com.au's Christian Jantzen.

Next NSW Liberal Leader

$1.25 Gladys Berejiklian with Sportsbet
$7.50 Anthony Roberts
$7.50 Jillian Skinner
$8.00 Andrew Constance
$9.00 Brad Hazzard
$21 Stuart Ayres
$26 Pru Goward
$34 Rob Stokes
$51 Gabriel Upton
$51 Victor Dominello
$51 John Ajaka
$5 Mark Speakman

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John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

Trevor H BobWhitelaw Trevor there have been two interventions to the inter/intra-code agreements by legislation. One was to remove the Industry Financial Group COBIDD from the memorandum of understanding between the greyhound parties and the control board. (under the Greyhound Act 2002) and also under the Tab Acts involved with the Merger of the AJC/STC special considerations. (intra and inter-code agreement, While the breaking of contracts by Government legislation excites compensation in both the above cases compensation was not claimed as the majority interests in both cases were seen to be advantaged and the minority groups could not afford to advance… Read more »

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

lone widow John Tracey 

spyman
spyman
7 years ago

Trevor H BobWhitelaw  is this issue more highlighted since the increase of meetings,australia wide. some states are handling it, but NSW is suffocating…..reduce some tracks,(feasibility studies show which ones) and reduce the number of meetings per track,especially those that are not classed as A tracks,and surrender WP…..maths says a then reduction in breeding numbers will not be so severe as people think! one member I have chatted with,is he is surprised  that many cannot see the values of having  so called SUPERTRACKS placed strategically where everyone,in time,in those zones,would benefit.and,all would be classed equals,so things like travel are cut,prizemoney the same… Read more »

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

lone widow The new premier revealed her family background in an interview recently outside of Parliament house explaining how her approach would differ from the previous Premier due to their different backgrounds. I don’t know to what extent you  might find the following prompt useful but you can profile all politicians by googling their speeches in parliament including debates and questions and answers. The most revealing is the member maiden speech. If you are visiiting or writing to members of parliament it always pays to profile the member so you can talk or write on common grounds. Here is a… Read more »

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

lone widow John Tracey Trevor H BobWhitelaw Bluestone The new premier revealed her family background in an interview recently outside of Parliament house explaining how her approach would differ from the previous Premier due to their different backgrounds. I don’t know to what extent you  might find the following prompt useful but you can profile all politicians by googling their speeches in parliament including debates and questions and answers. The most revealing is the member maiden speech. If you are visiiting or writing to members of parliament it always pays to profile the member so you can talk or write on common grounds. Here… Read more »

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

spyman Trevor H BobWhitelaw The below prompt shows the difference between the competition of phantom racing broadcasts to on track broadcasts between NSW and Victoria. The venue of excellence in NSW need to excellent about something other than food outlets and wagering entertainment. There are many poker Machine Clubs in NSW that have a wagering (Gaming return) individually greater than the whole of the money paid to NSW greyhound racing by the TAB. The new norm is the an mal welfare spend and infrastructure into the future. The 400 odd show dog clubs do not have much common property attached to them… Read more »

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

spyman Trevor H BobWhitelaw  Spyman a lot of what you are suggesting makes good business sense , Just after the sh*t hit the fan with the Ban a few of us had a meeting with very successful  Sports administrator  at the top level (example  a huge Sporting organisation that was on its knees Financially and within 3 years he turned around their fortunes to  be  one  of the most successful  profitable sporting clubs in Australia  and before that, he was  head Honcho at the Tab.) this fellow mapped out a strategy  for us  which would  see us as a viable part of… Read more »

spyman
spyman
7 years ago

BobWhitelaw spyman Trevor H  BOB,you have raised this gent once before. how does one say something without tipping the apple cart? is this gent so well respected,that a movement could be possible to put him to the front of the industry instead of MR.SCOTT? surely a members election of urgency could be raised,this gent put forward,and motioned?you know that is not that simple via your past knowledges,so how does one compare the two ideas?and BRENTON SCOTT has favour with the NSW government for sure. NSW is a very strange situation,and your own experiences have shown what walls can/will be built in front of… Read more »

Bluestone
Bluestone
7 years ago

BobWhitelaw Trevor H  I see plenty on social media blaming Mr. Wilson for the lack of condition of tracks especially Maitland and Gosford. Maybe they should look a bit closer to home as obviously the curators at those tracks are not up to scratch if a track like the Gardens can be still up and running through all the same weather events. Same sand, different results….hmmmm.

Trevor  H
Trevor H
7 years ago

Bluestone BobWhitelaw Trevor H With regards to Gosford, the decisions to abandon were made by relatively new GRNSW staff. After the torrential rain washed out half of this weeks meeting the curator must be commended for having the track in order for last nights trial session. 

Again, a GRNSW steward was in attendance for the trials and saw no issues with the track surface. 

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

Bluestone BobWhitelaw Trevor H Bluestone totally agree !

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

Trevor H Bluestone BobWhitelaw Trevor i would like to a  pose a couple of questions to you .(1)how would feel if Gosford  is one of the Tracks that is closed,  it was one of the tracks the Government were looking at to claim when the ban was put in place (2) What qualifications has a steward in the area of Track preparation and how does he deem a track  is safe ? being a ex compliance officer hardly  gives him the expertise in track surfaces, one would believe!. 

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

spyman BobWhitelaw Trevor H i believe the other to codes will use their political influence to keep him away from being the head honcho of greyhound racing here in nsw. You will ask why, and i’ll tell you he is a lot smarter then  them and any person person that the industry or government has ever put up to do right thing by the industry. all before have failed including Mr Scott. . Spyman Did you know, Scott went to  him for advice so what does that tell you !  

Trevor  H
Trevor H
7 years ago

BobWhitelaw Trevor H Bluestone Good question. The consolidation of tracks from an economic view must also consider the demographic concerning where dogs and trainers reside.For arguments sake, Gosford could close and Richmond could be developed into a dual track venue. Also,Gardens and Maitland could close and Cessnock could become a dual track venue. This is purely hypothetical. 

As for stewards having the final say on track condition, would it not be better to have the track maintenance manager control this area?

Bluestone
Bluestone
7 years ago

Trevor H BobWhitelaw Bluestone  imo we already have a blueprint of tracks that could be used in a new structure. I know many will not agree however, the current 16 TAB tracks are deemed at an acceptable standard already (debatable), so none of them should close. The addition of a further 4-5 NON TAB tracks (some are already loam) and a straight track would see NSW with 21-22 TAB Tracks with not a massive amount having to be spent on re-development. Different class of meetings could be held at each alternatively (Ipswich etc). If all conducted at least 1 meeting per week  that’s 21-22 meetings a… Read more »

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

Bluestone Trevor H BobWhitelaw The mail is that the new structure will be based around the Center of Excellence concept  which will mean some tracks might go and with the Panel talking about reduction in field sizes who knows.In saying that why would the head body want all those Tab tracks ,now i understand that one Tab Track dose’not meet the minimum requirements to conduct Tab Racing ,this also applies to a few non tab tracks and if the new head body is put in place and who knows when, they could again, move the goal post to suit their agenda ?

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

Bluestone Trevor H BobWhitelaw The rationalist models are difficult to debate without knowing the current state of the contracts handled by Racing corp which is the shareholder company between the three codes that determines relationships between the codes and the Tab. (contracts can be altered by mutual consent) and it would appear to be safe that the minority shareholder “the greyhounds” position would have got worse overtime. The original conditions of the agreement between racing, the Government and the TAB was for the industry to receive a share of the exclusive retail rights of the TAB to provide wagering services on anything… Read more »

spyman
spyman
7 years ago

John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H BobWhitelaw  ”The suggested rationalisation of tracks and racing to satisfy welfare concerns is much more radical. the radical model suggests that there only needs to be two tracks per state to satisfy broadcasts requirements” and this is the whole basis that many miss the point on. you do not require as many tracks,especially in NSW,if the service to TAB/SKY on the contract sides,is not mucked around with. so honestly,as one mentioned before,DEMOGRAPHICS of SUPERTRACKS is a vital key,and if placed correctly,then NSW will survive on only 6 tracks.meet the number of contracted races required by TAB,and the costs… Read more »

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

spyman John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H BobWhitelaw Your and Johns post has just proven the leaders, up to the time of the BAN have lead us down the road of  destruction , and now some  still believe they have done nothing wrong.  (A NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN ) Please  no more excuses for incompetence.

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

BobWhitelaw spyman John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H Fair comment, but it a lot worse than even you imagine. The extra meetings over and above the Tab contract were paid for by the greyhounds prior to digital system so they were uneconomic. The TAB were required to convert the contracted meetings to digital causing them to pay costs and this is why they wanted to reduce the number of TAB venues to six.  The previous situation saw the greyhounds having a low cost per race of providing racing but a high cost for them to produce racing to be broadcasted over Sky. This situation favoured… Read more »

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

spyman John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H BobWhitelaw John when you take up your position as Premier  the first thing you could do for the Greyhound Industry is  the implementation of all the recommendations of the CAMERON REPORT which would put us on a level playing field with the under performing  two  codes of Racing  here in NSW just for starters ! lol

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

BobWhitelaw spyman John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H Thanks for your confidence Bob, the first thing I will do when I am Premier is appoint you as the Minister for Gaming and Racing and you can do the hard slog. I will need to spend time in the USA as I am worried what the Donald will do to Spyman who is a self confessed Mexican. Apart from that I will try and bring back the death penalty and get a list of officials that you think deserve to be euthanised. Good to see you have kept your sense of humour. Just on the funny… Read more »

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

John Tracey BobWhitelaw spyman Bluestone Trevor H I think  Donald will have to learn how to ” DUCK” ! them Mexicans are pretty good shots i’ve been told. lol John, interesting times ahead with this By-Elections we might see another Orange result  ha?

spyman
spyman
7 years ago

John Tracey BobWhitelaw spyman Bluestone Trevor H  most MEXICANS JOHN, are good honest hard working people. nice people.(says TRUMP)…….take it from me though,better start building that WALL……LOL

DEATH PENALTY…..I did’ nt think things ere that bad up there……cough,cough,cough.

we have the answers BOB,JOHNand me ,the little MEXICAN HACIENDA owner…..ready to be paid an equitable wage for my efforts…..grease my MEXICAN palms.(everyone elses have been greased….whoa,below the belt that shot)

lone widow
lone widow
7 years ago

spyman John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H BobWhitelaw  Supertracks could be the way to go Gale, with a couple of provisos. My thoughts are wholly with the greyhounds themselves. Providing these so called centres of excellence  are focused around the track itself and not the restaurant and the tiolets and other facilities.  Preferably modeled on the bigger Cessnock, Devonport or Mandurah (75 mtr radius bends) and not Sandown otherwise we will get more of the same, traumatic injuries, nothing will change. In a previous post John said that rebuilding the tracks was not an option because it was too costly. John if you’re out there,… Read more »

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

lone widow spyman John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H BobWhitelaw Centre of excellences by definition rely on what you want to be excellent about. The cost of building a track and providing kennels to accommodate a shift from Wentworth Park back to Harold Park was assessed at million in the 19995-1998 period. These building costs would have doubled probably in todays values particularly taking into account the soaring cost of kennels. The scheme you are talking about was put forward by participant groups and was assessed by boards before I took up duties and both the Stanford Merthyr and the Liverpool trial tracks came in at… Read more »

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

lone widow spyman John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H BobWhitelaw Centre of excellences by definition rely on what you want to be excellent about. The cost of building a track and providing kennels to accommodate a shift from Wentworth Park back to Harold Park was assessed at million in the 19995-1998 period. These building costs would have doubled probably in todays values particularly taking into account the soaring cost of kennels. The scheme you are talking about was put forward by participant groups and was assessed by boards before I took up duties and both the Stanford Merthyr and the Liverpool trial tracks came in at… Read more »

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

BobWhitelaw John Tracey spyman Bluestone Trevor H

No firing squads please Bob things must be done quietly we don’t want any noises giving Deborah or Lone Widow a migraine.

Nothing will ever beat Orange but independents have won the bi election seats often before and the hit and runs are not exactly being good local members. 

spyman
spyman
7 years ago

lone widow spyman John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H BobWhitelaw  points taken LONEWIDOW. I am at the mercy of the more experienced and knowledgeable experts,like JOHN and BOB…I have no idea about what has happened,or what is happening even today,as I am south of the border. but I am passionate enough to contribute on every aspect or topic when I feel I need to say something.whether its learned correctly or not,its not that important,its how things get deciphered and how that is used in principal towards any goals that are requiring input. the entire concept on SUPERTRACKS Is shared by many who have posted.mine is just… Read more »

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

spyman lone widow John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H BobWhitelaw Its been pointed out to us by successful sports, racing, entertainment expert,that the super track concept is our future  and this concept   should be looking out side the square as far as secondary  income is concern which will support a viable and progressive code of racing . Example Cessnock is ideal for  Supertrack   and ticks all the Boxes, Vet ,Produce, aquatic  pool winery sales, restaurant, and a first class entertainment center and over night accommodation  for over nighter’s,which is already in place.  Cessnock is the  No2 tourist destination in NSW and No 7 in… Read more »

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

spyman lone widow John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H BobWhitelaw Spyman it is good to have a conversation  about anything but you are looking at the situation from the Victorian view were the greyhounds are advantaged by the TAB and the Treasury treatment of income from wagering and gaming receipts that are generally distributed to the NFP and Charity rather than the NSW System where the greyhounds are suppressed by the agreements. The NSW Government had comfort originally that the Victorian review would bring the Victorian racing back to the NSW model as they were convinced that the review would not work. The NSW system should… Read more »

spyman
spyman
7 years ago

being an outsider of the state of NSW, I ask this question,not knowing the answer or how the state views such thoughts.

IF, SUPERTRACKS were built,could they not only be set up as the hubs of the industry,but be allowed POKIES RIGHTS to supplement incomes?

SANDOWN PARK in Victoria survives nicely with such a set up. can it be legally done and why not apply now for a licence at the tracks designated to MAYBE be supertracks.

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

BobWhitelaw spyman lone widow John Tracey Bluestone Trevor H

Cessnock shows the way on how to get secondary income for  show grounds without dipping into the public like Redfern Park (90 million) to provide a twee feeder service for another sporting venture and all clubs should be interested in how Cessnock have existed without calling on the services of the Public Service Cabal that ran the marketing and promotion project to ban greyhound racing and dressed up the previous Minister for Racing in a three piece suit (without a hat) and appeared three paces behind the Premier at the Country Press Conferences.

BobWhitelaw
BobWhitelaw
7 years ago

John Tracey BobWhitelaw spyman lone widow Bluestone Trevor H John as for Ministers the  only real change is their seats and both will be on shaky ground at the next state election as for Toole he supported the closure of Greyhound industry as did Grant !

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

BobWhitelaw John Tracey spyman lone widow Bluestone Trevor H Thats right, the gaming and racing has been given a low profile and the politicians that supported the greyhounds outright have suffered in the restructure so for any of the Country Clubs that are feeling a bit timid they should consider that people have made great sacrifices on their behalf at their own personal career costs. The combined control board teams on the National Greyhound Body failure to support greyhound racing in real terms have probably cost the NSW Government the next election and they have certainly done damage to the National Party (but the Nationals… Read more »