Incoming Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith (left) is sworn into the Labor caucus with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra last week. Photo: Supplied.
It is impossible for the newly-minted Member for Leichhardt not to cut an imposing figure in the halls of Parliament, but Matt Smith is hoping it is his representation of one of the remotest parts of the country, and not his 211-centimetre frame, that really makes him known in Canberra.
Mr Smith travelled to Canberra earlier this month to be sworn into the Labor caucus and said his initial impression of the heart of federal politics had been a combination of awe and climate shock.
“The amount of work done in that building (Parliament House) is just incredible,” he said.
“People arrive at seven in the morning and they don’t leave until nine or 10 o’clock at night in what is essentially off season.
“And it’s cold beyond any reason; they’re telling me it’s going to get worse, but if the worst thing I have to suffer through is the odd cold morning to make sure we’re getting it done for Leichhardt, I’ll live with that.”
With the Australian Electoral Commission showing a 9.53 per cent swing against the Liberal National Party (LNP) and candidate Jeremy Neal in Leichhardt, Mr Smith said he believed the result demonstrated how many electors had been voting for long-serving MP Warren Entsch, and not the party.
“The big question was always was it an LNP seat, or was it a Warren Entsch seat?” he said.
“It turns out Warren was carrying a lot of personal votes himself.”
In a refreshing admission seldom seen in raw politicians, Mr Smith said he had caught up with his predecessor on 14 May to discuss the electorate, adding he intended to use Mr Entsch’s knowledge of the electorate as a bipartisan resource.
“We’ve also now got Nita (Green) as an assistant minister, so between Warren and Nita, I’ve got a good reference,” he told Cape York Weekly.
“I’m going to blaze my own trail, but it’s foolish to ignore institutional knowledge, and both of them have it in spades.”
When asked how long it would be before Cape York residents saw him on the ground, Mr Smith said a trip to the far north of his electorate was a priority.
“As soon as I’m declared, we’re going to start a tour straight away … to sit down with community leaders,” he said.
“It’s important that each individual community has its say on its future; there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and anyone who says that about the Cape is wrong.”
He added that while the Albanese government was yet to commit the $240 million needed to progress stage three of the Cape York Region Package to seal the Peninsula Developmental Road, he was “passionate” about ensuring the project received the funding green light.
“It’s my job to bring them (government ministers) up and show them what we’re actually looking at here,” he said.
“I’m hoping to bring ministers up over the next few weeks and move from there.
“It’s something that I’m very passionate about, and I know it’s something the Cape communities are crying out for.”
