Vale Bruce Baird - the Liberal stalwart who fought for refugees, has died aged 84

Bruce Baird was a very egalitarian Member of Parliament graceful around librarians, attendants and waiters. Bruce was a regular swimmer on level 2 at the NSW Parliamentary swimming pool in winter and Andrew Boy Charlton pool in summer. He became a feature at Manly’s Bold and Beautiful ocean swimming club. To boot, Malcolm Turnbull groomed Bruce for several winter swims at Bondi Iceberg. 

My daughters were christened at St Mark Darling Point church where Bruce shared several sermons in 1990s. He always had time to stay for morning tea and share a joke or ten with fellow worshippers and the ring leader of the bell ringers, Peter Coleman

Whenever, NSW Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee invited Bruce to speak at seminars, round table and conferences on Olympic Games and Public Private infrastructure projects, Bruce never declined. Even veteran independent politician, John Hatton AO, respects both Bruce and his son Mike  who is involved with many charities …

Bruce Baird was a regular swimmer at the Bold and the Beautiful swim squad, which swims between Manly Beach and Shelly Beach. James Brickwood

Mr Baird was father to former NSW premier Mike Baird and journalist Julia Baird.

Bruce Baird, former federal Liberal MP and NSW minister, dies aged 84

Bruce Baird, the Liberal stalwart who fought for refugees, has died aged 84

What my father Bruce taught me, and why I’ll always stare at fish

 week I returned to the University of Sydney to accept an honorary doctorate. It was wonderful to be back at a place that shaped my life and the lives of my family; where I’d spent the best part of a decade studying arts, and some law, and then diving into history to write a PhD that took a ridiculously long time and caused clumps of my hair to fall out. History, like careers, like human lives, never operates in a straight line. It gets knocked out of shape by events, like all of us, like the human heart.

On that day my heart was particularly dented because that place was also where my father, alongside my mother, studied arts in the ’60s. He went on to live a big life of public service, humanity and adventure. He died suddenly, before I was due to speak at the university, and I thought about not going. But I was there because he would have wanted me there, along with my family – mainly because he loved attention and fancy hats and would have been horrified at the prospect of my forgoing either on his account.

Dad always said Mum was the great scholar, not him. Which may be fair. But he was a great human. And he paid attention, especially to the things that aren’t written down, that aren’t on the syllabus.

He paid attention to people, and to the ocean.

He taught me to push forward in the surf, to enter the ocean every day no matter your mood or workload, no matter the colour of the skies, the size of the waves (within reason), to dive in and just try, to give it a crack.

When you find people who believe in you, don’t take them for granted. Keep them by your side.

Julia Baird and her father, Bruce Baird, in the ocean.

Former Australian Liberal politician Bruce Baird has died aged 84.

Baird is the father of former NSW Premier Mike Baird, who led the state from 2014 to 2017, and journalist Julia Baird.

He played a key role in securing the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games while on Macquarie Street, where he headed the ministries for tourism, roads, environment and transport.

Bruce Baird has died aged 84. JAMES ALCOCK

Baird was elected to the now-abolished NSW seat of Northcott in 1984, which he held for 11 years, before entering federal parliament through the southern Sydney seat of Cook in 1998.

He represented the electorate for nine years, retiring before the 2007 election and making way for future prime minister Scott Morrison to occupy the seat.

Baird swam in the “Bold & Beautiful” swim squad, which regularly exercised in the waters off Manly and Shelly Beach. He was described as a “much-loved” member of the community by squad organiser Peter Anthony, and a “great mate” to those in the group.

“Bruce was a much-loved part of our swim community and a wonderful friend to so many of us,” Anthony told members on Friday. “Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who loved him.”

Respected Liberal Party politician Bruce Baird has died aged 84

Former Liberal Party politician Bruce Baird has died aged 84.

Baird was father to former NSW premier Mike Baird, journalist Julia Baird and marketing executive Steve Baird. He was married to Judy, who predeceased him.

Baird was elected to the NSW parliament as the member for Northcott in 1984, and went on to serve as Transport Minister in the Greiner government. He was also responsible for Sydney’s successful bid to host the 2000 Olympics.

From 1984 to 1995, he was a member for the safe oLiberal seat of Northcott in NSW, during which time he served as minister for transport, minister for Sydney’s Olympics bid, and minister for tourism and roads.

In 1998, Baird crossed over to federal parliament after winning the electorate of Cook. A footnote in Liberal Party history is how Baird was overlooked for a ministry position in the John Howard government because of his stance on asylum seekers, which went against Howard’s policy, and his closeness to Howard’s treasurer and nemesis, Peter Costello.

Despite this, Baird was a leading moderate voice in the Howard government who was widely respected within the Coalition and across the aisle. He retired in 2007 and was ultimately replaced in the seat by Scott Morrison.

After politics he led the Tourism and Transport Forum and was chair of the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council, which advised the federal government on refugee policy.

He was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for service to Australian parliament in 2010, and for service to the community of NSW through a range of business, tourism and welfare organisations.

Baird, left, with NSW premier Nick Greiner in 1992. 

Baird swam regularly as part of the Bold &Beautiful Swim Squad off Manly and Shelly Beaches. He was described as a much-loved member of the group by squad organiser Peter Anthony.

“Bruce was a much-loved part of our swim community and a wonderful friend to so many of us,” Anthony wrote to members on Friday afternoon. “Our thoughts are with his family and everyone who loved him.

“RIP mate. You will always be alongside me around the point.”