THE political bombshells keep dropping with NSW Premier Mike Baird's decision to quit politics, effective immediately, the latest event to create serious shockwaves.
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Mr Baird has led NSW for just three years and surfed a wave of massive popularity for steering a one-time economic basket case into the most envied state in the country.
Budget repair, massive infrastructure spending, in Sydney and surrounds in particular, and major job creation are all big ticks for Mr Baird's government.
But inevitably turbulence can strike any politician – just ask Sussan Ley who became engulfed in the first controversy of her 16-year political career and lost her high-profile federal Health Minister job.
Last year was a particularly brutal one for Mr Baird, who was the public face of a major backdown on the decision to ban greyhound racing.
His government underestimated the impact the move had, particularly in regional NSW, with the result of a byelection in the seat of Orange late in the year ramming home the level of dissatisfaction outside Sydney.
The electorate was National Party heartland and even though the greyhound ban had been reversed before the byelection, the Coalition lost the seat to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.
Mr Baird did have the courage to say he got the ban wrong, but the original decision came at a heavy political cost.
The Premier also revealed the human toll a life in the spotlight can have as he revealed his father, mother and sister were experiencing major health battles.
The issue hurting Mr Baird's government closer to home has been local government reform.
Angst is being felt in the newly created Federation Council area even though the former Corowa and Urana shires were willing to merge after a highly controversial three-way merger with Lockhart was initially proposed and then dumped.
Mr Baird's exit sparked inevitable questions of Albury MLA Greg Aplin's long-term intentions given he has been in public life longer than his leader.
Mr Aplin said retirement wasn't on his radar.
His challenge will be delivering on rising expectations of an increasingly demanding electorate and voters regularly questioning the worth of being in safe seat a long way from Sydney.