Background
Smith was born in England, and attended Street Brendan"s Public school 1958-1963 and Salisbury High School in Brisbane, Queensland, 1963-1965.
Smith was born in England, and attended Street Brendan"s Public school 1958-1963 and Salisbury High School in Brisbane, Queensland, 1963-1965.
He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1999 to 2010, representing South Eastern Metropolitan Region. In 1989, he became a union leader. Smith was elected to the Legislative Council in the 1999 Victorian state election, representing Chelsea Province.
In December 2006 he became President of the Legislative Council.
In 1965 he became a permanent member of the Royal Australian Navy, where he remained until 1980, when he became the plant operator of a steel mill.