Howard told Baird to flip

SYDNEY

NSW Premier Mike Baird has revealed it was advice from former prime minister John Howard that gave him the courage to overturn his controversial greyhound ban.

In the space of just a few days this week Mr Baird performed a triple-whammy of humiliating political backflips – reversing his greyhound ban, finally admitting nets are needed off Ballina’s shark infested beaches and foreshadowing a big relaxation of the lockout laws.

However, Mr Baird said sage words from Australia’s second longest serving prime minister had taught him that good political leadership means not always sticking to your guns.

“You have to listen – good government listens and I have had that lesson,” he said.

“I have had (New Zealand Prime Minister) John Key and John Howard come and address our cabinet over the past 12-18 months, and that is a big part of their lessons.

“There are times that you make decisions that aren’t right and you need to respond.

“That is not easy because when you change (your position) people throw all types of criticism and all types of terms at you, but I actually think it is the right thing to do.”

Speaking yesterday at an Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce lunch, the premier joked that he realised how bad things had become when his teenage daughter sent him a text showing concern.

“I know things are going reasonably tough … in fact I had the clearest signal ever when in the middle of this week my 17-year-old daughter … she actually texted me and said, ‘ Hi dad, how are you? Hang in there’.

“I said to my wife, ‘ Are things really that bad? Bless her, I love her dearly, but communicating with parents is not a big part of life for a 17-yearold.”

Mr Baird, who previously portrayed himself as a conviction politician, acknowledged his public stock had fallen but denied he considered quitting.

“No ... not at all,” he declared. “I have got to take responsibility for where we were and the feedback that we were getting and I want to keep going. There is more to do, I am determined to do it.

“Tough weeks are just part of the gig.”