Far North’s newest MP backs Port Douglas sports fest and reveals first impressions of Parliament

Fresh off his first trip to Canberra Far North Queensland’s newest MP helped launch a new Indigenous sports initiative, and revealed his first impressions of the parliament “machine”.

The partnership between the Port Douglas Gran Fondo and the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) was launched at Redlynch State School. (L to R) Group of students runners from Redlynch State School, MP elect for Leichhardt Matt Smith, IMF representatives, Gran Fondo festival director Bade Stapleton. Picture: Elodie Jakes

Fresh off his first trip to Canberra the Far North’s newest MP helped launch a new Port Douglas sports tourism initiative, and revealed his first impressions of the parliament “machine”.

The Port Douglas Gran Fondo, a multi-day running and cycling festival, has teamed up with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation to encourage more First Nations people to take on the 2km, 5km, 10km and half-marathon running events.

Newly elected Labor MP Matt Smith said The Gran Fondo festival was set to become a “global icon” in sports tourism.

“Mass participation sporting events drive economic growth, bringing people in to enjoy themselves and to enjoy our fantastic region,” Mr Smith said.

“Having that partnership with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation is absolutely essential, it gives people an excuse to get out, get running and build confidence.”

Labor MP elect for Leichhardt Matt Smith. Picture: Elodie Jakes

The announcement follows Mr Smith’s first trip to Canberra since beating out LNP hopeful Jeremy Neal in the 2025 Federal election, flipping the seat of Leichhardt for the first time in 26 years.

“Albo just rang up and said ‘We’ve got caucus, we’re going to Canberra’, and it was a really good experience,” Mr Smith said.

“Parliament House itself is an absolute machine.

“I felt very welcomed. We’re excited to have such a large (Labor) influx, but very cognisant of the work that needs to be done still.”

Mr Smith stressed he was still not technically an MP, leaving him with “a lot of responsibility right now and no power”.

“I haven’t been officially declared by the AEC, so I’m not technically an MP yet,” Mr Smith said.

“So I’m trying to do as much as I can, but I just don’t have an office, an email address or the resources.

“I’m hoping to have that up and running in the next 48 hours.”

MP elect for Leichhardt Matt Smith high-fiving a Redlynch State School student. Picture: Elodie Jakes

The MP elect confirmed his priority remained building a new urgent care clinic in Cairns’ northern beaches

“That’s something that I’ll have to sit down with (Health Minister) Mark Butler in his department and say look, this is where we want to go and we’ll go from there,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith was joined by Douglas Shire Council Mayor Lisa Scomazzon who said the Gran Fondo event has already started to attract much-needed tourists from interstate and overseas.

“It’s a great boost in September, because we’re in a down season at that time of year,” Ms Scomazzon said.

“So we’ll end up with a lot more people in the shire, and they’re all staying at Port Douglas.

“We have had a bit of a slow tourist season, but I think that’s across the whole board and across Australia.”

Douglas Shire Council Mayor Lisa Scomazzon. Picture: Elodie Jakes

Indigenous Marathon Foundation representative TJ Cora said the Gran Fondo running event provides social, physical and mental health benefits to the Far North community.

Indigenous Marathon Foundation athlete TJ Cora. Picture: Elodie Jakes

A group of students from Redlynch State College are training up to three times a week for the Run Port Douglas 5km event. Picture: Elodie Jakes

“The partnership’s amazing, I’m a proud Kuku Yalamji man from Mossman, so it’s amazing to have all our young people and the wider community coming up to Port Douglas,” Mr Cora said.

“I’ve run lots of places, I’ve just come back from the London Marathon and I’ve done New York, but nothing beats running on country, just does a lot for your soul.”

The Port Douglas Gran Fondo Festival runs from September 13-14 2025. Places are still available with registration closing on September 12, 2025.

Originally published as Far North’s newest MP backs Port Douglas sports fest and reveals first impressions of Parliament