New South Wales Premier Mike Baird is the nation’s most popular state leader, despite an exodus of disgraced Liberal MPs in the wake of an ICAC investigation.

A Newspoll conducted for The Australian during September and October shows Mr Baird’s satisfaction levels have hit a high of 56 per cent while Opposition Leader John Robertson lags behind at 35 per cent.

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This is the Liberals’ best result since 2012, with 52 per cent of those polled choosing Mr Baird as preferred premier, while Mr Robertson was favoured by 17 per cent.

The Coalition is still ahead of Labor on a two-party-preferred basis, 55-45 per cent.