Career
He was an Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1999 to 2003, representing the electorate of South Coast. He was the only incumbent ALP member to lose his seat at the 2003 state election. Smith was born in Newcastle and educated at Birrong Boys High School.
He received a Bachelor of Science and a Dip.Ed from the University of Sydney.
Smith trained as a teacher, and was working at Vincentia High School when he decided to contest ALP pre-selection for the Liberal-held state seat of South Coast. In parliament, Smith was a relatively low-profile backbencher, and frequently clashed with the Liberal member for the corresponding federal electorate, the popular Joanna Gash.
Smith has since relocated to Sydney.