Mr Baird is carefully crafting a reputation as a straight-shooting leader who is in politics to get things done rather than talk about it.

His heavy-handed treatment of the greyhound industry is a case in point, any example of the premier showing a willingness to act first and consult later when he believes decisive action is needed. 

That tough stance has won him a few new friends around the state but also lost him plenty of votes along the way.

He so far shows no sign of backing away from the decision and the greyhound industry has its works cut out to try and broker some compromise before July 1 next year. 

No doubt, then, they will be watching on closely to see what happens with the lockout and liquor sale laws.

This was another example of the premier taking decisive action to remedy a problem that has been going on for far too long – in this case, unprovoked, alcohol-fuelled attacks in and around inner-Sydney licenses premises.

Again, that decision was greeted with as much criticism as applause with even some of Mr Baird's own Coalition colleagues particularly slamming the impact the new liquor sale laws were having on regional centres.

As with the greyhound decision, though, there are now risks for Mr Baird regardless of what he does next. There is no guarantee that backflipping on the liquor sale laws will bring back any support he has lost.

And any support he has picked up through his tough stance would certainly be lost for good if he were to change his mind now.

Perhaps the only “out” for Mr Baird is to admit the decision-makers had not foreseen all the ramifications of introducing the new laws.

It wouldn’t be a good look to admit they hadn’t fully appreciated the impact on regional, farming communities of banning alcohol sales after 10pm, particularly as his government already has a reputation for being very Sydney-centric. 

THE DAILY LIBERAL