Monday 23 March 2015

So just how different are NSW Premier Mike Baird and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott?


Photograph from The Daily Telegraph, Tony Abbott (left) and Mike Baird (right)

Michael Bruce "Mike" Baird MP         Anthony John “Tony” Abbott

Liberal Premier of NSW                       Liberal Prime Minister of Australia

State Member for Manly                       Federal Member for Warringah
on Sydney’s North Shore                     on Sydney’s North Shore

Born April 1968 in Melbourne                  Born November 1957 in London
Almost 48 years old                                58 years old

Attended an exclusive private school,     Attended an exclusive private school,
King’s School                                          St Ignatius College

Bachelor of Arts (Economics)                  Bachelor of Arts (Economics)  
University of Sydney                                Bachelor of Laws      
                                                                 University of Sydney                
                                                                 Master of Arts (PPE)
                                                                 Oxford University

Studied theology with a view                   Studied theology with a view
to becoming an Anglican minister            to becoming a Catholic priest
Regent College, British Columbia            St. Patrick’s Seminary, Sydney

Member of Queenscliff Surf Life              Member of Queenscliff Surf Life 
SavingClub                                              Saving Club

Sometimes boxes for exercise                 Former recreational boxer

Lives in federal electorate                         Lives in federal electorate
of Warringah at Fairlight, NSW                  of Warringah at Forestville, NSW

Announced a budget deficit in 2014-15     Announced a budget deficit in 2014-15
in his first state budget as Premier             in his first federal budget as Prime Minister

Has a policy of privatization of                   Has a policy of privatization of
state assets                                                state assets

Supports petroleum & mineral exploration   Supports petroleum & mineral exploration
including coal seam gas                               including coal seam gas

Cut public service jobs as                           Cut public service jobs as
NSW Treasurer                                           Australian Prime Minister

Sometimes avoids press questions             Frequently avoids press questions 
after a  media announcement                      after a media announcement

"And what a pleasure it is to stand here in   “Mike Baird, my friend, my local 
front of a friend of mine –                             parliamentary colleague” [March 2013]
the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott."                “outstanding individual” [April 2014]
 [March 2015]                                               I have known Mike for many years
"Tony and I are mates.” [February 2015]     and I know he will discharge
“If everybody had the chance to sit down     his responsibilities with integrity and 
one  on one with Tony Abbott, they would    honour" [April 2014]
come away a fan” [March 2015]

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