"After 16 dismal years of NSW Labor, Barry rebuilt the fundamentals of governance in NSW" Premier Baird

Former NSW premier Barry O'Farrell, who entered Parliament in March 1995. Photo: Daniel Munoz

Barry O’Farrell has made an enormous contribution to the Liberal Party and to NSW.

Barry is one of only three leaders who have taken the Coalition from opposition to government in NSW. An accomplished parliamentarian, he dominated the Legislative Assembly, both as opposition leader and premier.

After 16 dismal years of NSW Labor, Barry rebuilt the fundamentals of governance in NSW. A highlight was the establishment of Infrastructure NSW, which finally removed the politics and pork-barrelling from decisions on major projects, and which stands as a monument to his tenure.

The list of achievements and reforms is long and significant, and includes: the Public Service Commission; Service NSW; the new convention centre, which he jump-started from opposition; and getting the State’s finances in order.

Barry promised to start work on at least one of the “missing links” in Sydney’s road network during his first term, and instead started work on three: he promised to be “the infrastructure premier,” and he delivered.

One of the priveleges of my time as treasurer was to work closely with Barry in implementing a public sector wages policy, eliminating waste, and bringing discipline to spending. As a result of these measures, and reforms to the State’s balance sheet, we were able to bring the Budget under control and end Labor’s debt spiral.

Barry’s ability to take the community along with him on these difficult reforms, and maintain a high level of support for the Government, testifies to his political skill.

But perhaps Barry’s most enduring legacy is a very human one: more than 71,000 new housing lots, released and rezoned since March 2011, supported with infrastructure and ready to be occupied by families.  Barry was a premier who believed in growth and put to rest any suggestion that “Sydney is full.”

I am convinced that Barry’s contribution to the community, though enormous, has just begun. On behalf of Kerryn and myself, and on behalf of the Government, I wish him and Rosemary every good fortune as they face their next adventure.

Barry O'Farrell announces his retirement from NSW Parliament

November 24, 2014

After months of speculation, former NSW premier Barry O'Farrell has announced he will not recontest his seat of Ku-ring-gai at next year's state election, signalling his exit from state politics after 20 years.

Mr O'Farrell had refused to confirm rumours that his announcement was pending in the final sitting weeks of the NSW Parliament for 2014.

On Monday night he announced via his favoured medium, Twitter, that he had informed branch members of his decision.

"For almost 20 years I've been honoured to serve my community and I thank local residents and branch members for their strong support over five campaigns," he said in a statement.

Mr O'Farrell said he had earlier informed Premier Mike Baird of his decision.

Mr O'Farrell, who led the Coalition to victory in 2011, resigned as premier in April after giving false evidence to the Independent Commission Against Corruption about a gift of Grange Hermitage from Liberal Party fundraiser and lobbyist Nick Di Girolamo.

He took over as opposition leader after former Liberal leader Peter Debnam lost the "unlosable election" to former Labor premier Morris Iemma in 2007.

Mr O'Farrell immediately set about repairing the damage wrought during years of bitter factional in-fighting between the right and left wings of the party.

Adopting a "small target" strategy in opposition, for which he was roundly criticised, Mr O'Farrell led the Coalition to a historic victory over the ALP in 2011. In doing so he became one of only three leaders to take the Coalition from opposition to government.

As premier, Mr O'Farrell oversaw significant but unpopular reforms including the sacking of 15,000 public servants, the imposition of wage rise caps for the public service and an overhaul of the WorkCover scheme.

But he was criticised for being too timid in other areas, most notably his reluctance to proceed with a sale of the publicly owned electricity "poles and wires".

Mr O'Farrell entered Parliament in March 1995 and will be entitled to a lifetime parliamentary pension of more than $160,000 a year or a lump sum of $1.6 million.

His safe seat of Ku-ring-gai will be keenly sought after by local Liberals, who have been canvassing support over recent weeks in anticipation of his announcement.

The leading candidate appears to be Mr O'Farrell's state electoral conference president, Carolyn Cameron.

One of Mr O'Farrell's closest political colleagues, NSW Attorney-General Brad Hazzard, said Mr O'Farrell had "brought the team together to bring us from opposition to government and more importantly brought NSW back to being the number one state in the country".

"I will miss him; we'll all miss him."

Mr Baird said Mr O'Farrell had made "an enormous contribution to the Liberal Party and NSW".

"I am convinced that Barry's contribution to the community, though enormous, has just begun," Mr Baird said.

"On behalf of [my wife] Kerryn and myself, and on behalf of the government, I wish him and [his wife] Rosemary every good fortune as they face their next adventure."