Departures of note

Bruce Baird was an Australian Liberal politician who served at both state and federal level over more than two decades. He was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Northcott in 1984 and, after the Greiner government took office in 1988, served as Minister for Transport. He later held the portfolios of Tourism and Roads and was Minister for Sydney's Olympic Bid from 1990 to 1993, playing a key role in Sydney's successful campaign for the 2000 Olympic Games. He also served as deputy leader of the NSW Liberal Party from 1992 to 1994 and was a candidate to succeed Nick Greiner as Premier.

After leaving state parliament, Baird was managing director of the Tourism Council of Australia and chairman of the National Rail Corporation before entering federal politics. He represented the Sydney seat of Cook in the Australian House of Representatives from 1998 to 2007, chairing the standing committee on economics, finance and public administration and campaigning with fellow Liberal MPs against the mandatory detention of asylum seekers. He never served as a federal minister.

Following his retirement from politics, Baird chaired the Tourism and Transport Forum and the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council, reviewed the Education Services for Overseas Students Act, and served as inaugural chairman of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2010. He was the father of former NSW Premier Mike Baird and journalist Julia Baird.