As Mike Baird returns to banking, where have our other former politicians gone?
Mike Baird has taken up a job with NAB. Photo: AAP
Former New South Wales premier Mike Baird has moved into the banking industry, taking a job with National Australia Bank.
Mr Baird, who unexpectedly resigned from the state’s top job last month, will work as chief customer officer for corporate and institutional banking at NAB, where he began his banking career in 1989.
The announcement follows the appointment of former Queensland premier Anna Bligh as chief executive of the Australian Bankers’ Association earlier in February.
Mr Baird is one of a number of high-profile politicians to take up prominent roles in business after leaving state and federal politics.
Professor John Rice, a business expert at the University of New England, told The New Daily politicians were highly sought-after in the private sector due their connections. He was speaking generally and not about Mr Baird’s new role.
“The access to decision-makers is one of the main factors,” he said.
“It’s not just former politicians but people within the political apparatus. Their informal social networks provide very ready access to positions of power.”
Professor Rice said the public were often worried by an apparent revolving door between big business and state and federal parliaments.
“Where there is the capacity for politicians to draw upon their connections, their social or political relationships, to gain advantage for their employer, I think the public is right to be very concerned,” he said.
Where are they now?
Mike Baird, former NSW premier
He shocked observers by resigning as premier earlier in the year. Mr Baird has taken up a job as chief customer officer at National Australia Bank.
Former Queensland premier Anna Bligh. Photo: Getty
Anna Bligh, former Queensland premier
The Labor politician led Queensland from 2007 to 2012, and was appointed CEO of Australian Bankers’ Association in February.
Sophie Mirabella, former Liberal frontbencher
After a failed bid to regain her seat of Indi in 2016, the conservative Liberal has been working as manager of government and media relations at Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting.
Adam Giles, former NT chief minister
Another former politician working for Gina Rinehart, Mr Giles is the general manager of external affairs at Hancock Prospecting.
Joe Hockey went from political exile to the front lines of global politics.
Andrew Robb, former Liberal minister
The former trade minister raised eyebrows when he reportedly took up a role as an economic consultant for the Landbridge Group, the Chinese company that controls Darwin Port.
Joe Hockey, former treasurer
After leaving Parliament, Tony Abbott’s former right-hand man was named Australia’s ambassador to the United States.
Nova Peris, former Labor senator
Following her controversial departure, she was named an advocate for indigenous participation in sport at the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.
Former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell. Photo: AAP
Campbell Newman, former Queensland premier
The former premier, who lost a tight election to Annastacia Palaszczuk in 2015, serves as chairman of SwarmFarm, an agricultural robotics firm.
Barry O’Farrell, former NSW premier
Mr O’Farrell quit in disgrace over an ICAC scandal involving bottle of Grange. He is now chief executive at Racing Australia.
Lindsay Tanner, former Labor finance minister
Mr Tanner, a former member for Melbourne and Labor elder statesman, followed Paul Little as chairman of the Essendon Football Club.
Former Liberal National Party MP Wyatt Roy with a member of the Peshmerga in Sinjar area. Photo: Supplied
Wyatt Roy, former Liberal assistant minister
Aside from making headlines for a much-criticised trip to Iraq, the young politician is Australian head at the artificial intelligence firm Afiniti.
Martin Ferguson, former Labor minister
The former resources minister has enraged Labor by slamming his former party. He’s now chairman of Tourism Accommodation Australia and has reportedly worked as a lobbyist for the resources and energy sector.
Stephen Conroy, former Labor minister
The former senator raised eyebrows last September by resigning without telling acting Labor leader Tanya Plibersek. He did so again by agreeing to serve as executive director at Responsible Wagering Australia, a new industry body set up by online bookmakers.
Clive Palmer, former Federal MP and PUP leader
The eccentric member for Fairfax is currently dealing with the fallout from the demise of his company Queensland Nickel.