NSW Premier Mike Baird announced he would be retiring from politics in a statement on Thursday morning, and the state's Twitter community was quick to show him the door.
Known by most as the supporter of Sydney's infamous lockout laws, fan of James Packer's casino at the city's new Barangaroo development, and abandoner of the state's proposed ban on greyhound racing, there was no shortage of content with which to farewell "Casino Mike", who gave no reason for his departure.
Here are some of the best quips.
Many just could not resist a lockout laws gag.
They should change the locks on Mike Baird's office now so when gets back next he's locked out. #MikeBaird
— steve_philp (@steve_philp) January 18, 2017
Shocked to hear Mike Baird has extended the lockout to his own office.
— Colley (@JamColley) January 18, 2017
I guess Mike Baird figured that now Sydney is dead, his work is done.
— Andrew P Street (@AndrewPStreet) January 18, 2017
Mike Baird’s time has been cut short and he’s heading home, just as he was getting into the swing of it. How very Sydney 2017.
— Dom Knight (@domknight) January 18, 2017
Put your drinks out for Mike Baird but make sure they're in by 10pm
— Jenny Noyes (@jennynoise) January 18, 2017
While some could not remember a time in which politicians were actually allowed to leave a leadership position without weeks of backroom deals and a 12-hour ABC News 24 broadcast.
I urge the NSW Libs to do the right thing & roll Mike Baird ahead of his resignation date next week. No Australian leader deserves to retire
— elle hardy (@ellehardytweets) January 18, 2017
Because who could forget the way NSW lost their last premier...
[SCENE: INT MIKE BAIRD'S CELLAR]
— Gordy (@GordyPls) January 18, 2017
BAIRD: "We've got a d'Arenberg GSM, some kiwi chardy, a Gr...
Shit.
WHY IS THIS HERE."
A pop culture reference also proved hard to resist.
#throwback to literally one year ago when mike baird was an invulnerable philosopher-king, ruling from his facebook eyrie
— Tiger Webb (@tfswebb) January 18, 2017
Finally @mikebairdMP got busted for the incident in Fargo back in the nineties pic.twitter.com/VNfPqs6J6t
— Yumi Stynes (@yumichild) January 18, 2017
Much like Daniel Craig, Mike Baird has decided to not continue in his role.#NSWpol #AusPol #CasinoMike #MikeBaird pic.twitter.com/rgfHnFCgwo
— Leon Sjogren (@Leonsjogren) January 18, 2017
Some kept it serious.
So it's the greyhounds, not what was done to women's refuges, that led to Baird's fall in popularity. Isn't politics grand?
— Chip Rolley (@ChipRolley) January 18, 2017
Mike Baird has seen #WestConnex, Barangaroo, council amalgamations are disasters and now he's cutting and running #nswpol
— Senator Lee Rhiannon (@leerhiannon) January 18, 2017
I wish my mate @mikebairdMP and Kerryn and family all the very best.
— Joe Hockey (@JoeHockey) January 18, 2017
A great bloke, great to deal with and an outstanding Premier of NSW.
Others put a nice filter on it.
— kirsten (@lilacwhine_) January 18, 2017
But this probably best sums up the mood:
oh no a day full of baird jokes
— eat my borts (@bortofdarkness) January 18, 2017
twitter is ruined
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