The first is that Baird has done the right thing by giving his successor – set to be Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian - time to establish herself before the 2019 election.

The second, less generous, assessment is that Baird, despite his explanation of the health pressures on his family, has cut and run just as the going got tough on issues like forced council amalgamations, lockout laws and community anger over the impact of the government's infrastructure program.

That view says he is leaving his colleagues in the lurch with a nasty byelection in his seat of Manly and the task of winning back public support before a tough 2019 poll.

There are elements of truth in both.

On a macro level, Baird's achievements are many – particularly in the areas of the budget discipline, infrastructure and promotion of economic growth.

As Treasurer, Baird wrangled the budget back into the black and as Premier achieved what most believed was impossible by taking electricity privatisation to the 2015 election and winning - in spite of the scandalous resignation of his predecessor, Barry O'Farrell.

Tens of billions of dollars of infrastructure spending that flowed has helped lift the NSW economy to No 1 nationally.

As a result, he leaves Berejiklian and her pending new-look cabinet an impressive works program to boast about and time to present a fresh agenda to the NSW public.

Yet Baird knows only too well that the tide is turning on the Coalition government on the ground after six years in power.

Under Baird, things have moved fast – too fast for many, including the many NSW residents who feel steamrolled by an agenda they believe has consistently put progress before people.

On WestConnex, the light rail, lockout laws and amalgamations, Baird felt the brunt of that anger and it was reflected in his personal standing in the opinion polls.

This is no longer Baird's problem and one Berejiklian will have to confront as she embarks on the mission to introduce herself to the public - as will now be a complex reshuffle.

On balance, Baird's resignation is also a belated Christmas present for the ALP.

Despite the slump in his poll numbers last year, Baird was widely regarded within his party and Labor as being easily the government's best chance for re-election.

His resignation completely changes the equation for both sides.

Apart from anger over parts of its agenda, the government will need to deal with the public's natural dislike of politicians who they voted into power – in Baird's case only two years ago - quitting mid-term.

Labor will need to consider whether to swing behind Opposition Leader Luke Foley as the best option to take on the new Premier, or to consider its own leadership change.

At this stage there is no indication that Foley is under threat, but whether that remains the case depends very much on how things pan out as Berejiklian enjoys the traditional honeymoon period over the coming months.

In Foley and Labor's favour, most people would find it very difficult to say what Berejiklian stands for, apart from efficiency.

Berejiklian is a cautious politician, and the Liberal Party will need to give some thought to the story she wants to tell the public and, equally importantly, what she will do differently to Baird.

On the up side, they have two years to get it right.