Arabic version: وفاة السياسي الليبرالي السابق بروس بيرد عن 84 عاماً

According to ABC News, former Liberal politician Bruce Baird has died suddenly at the age of 84. He was the father of former New South Wales premier Mike Baird, journalist Julia Baird and son Steve.

Julia Baird said in a social media post that her father died on Friday morning and the family was still in shock. She described him as fit, extroverted and full of life, with a love of ocean swimming, friends, gossip and yarns. She said he had been married to Judith, his first girlfriend and “great love”, for more than half a century.

The NSW Liberal Party described Baird as a party stalwart and a greatly respected politician who served NSW in state and federal parliaments. As NSW minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism, he played a key role in securing the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Baird later represented the federal NSW seat of Cook from 1998 to 2007. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called him “a real gentleman and a true parliamentarian”, while former prime minister Scott Morrison described him as “a giant, a mentor and a friend”. NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane said his contribution to NSW and Australia was “extraordinary”.

After leaving politics before the 2007 general election, Baird was appointed chair of the Refugee Resettlement Advisory Council in 2008 by the Rudd Labor government. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2010.