Leichhardt MP Matt Smith to start parliament journey after LNP mentorship from Warren Entsch

Leichhardt MP Matt Smith will start his journey as a federal Labor parliamentarian, but only after a post-election orientation delivered to him by the other side – a likely Australian first.

Matt Smith shakes hands with the retiring Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch at the Australian Electoral Commission pre-polling centre, set up at the Tjapukai Cultural Park in Smithfield, Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

Leichhardt MP Matt Smith will start his journey as a federal Labor parliamentarian on Tuesday, but only after a post-election orientation delivered to him by the other side – a likely Australian first.

When the former basketballer takes his seat among Labor’s 94 members in the 48th parliament, it won’t just be his height that makes him stand out.

Mr Smith will have entered the first sitting week of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s second term after receiving a mentorship by the Labor leader’s friend and former LNP stalwart Warren Entsch.

After his delayed election declaration, Mr Smith said his office and administration set-up was slower than ideal, but that would be no excuse to not start electorate duties.

Leichhardt MP Matt Smith signs the Caucus membership book with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

So, without hesitation or fear of upsetting party politics, Mr Smith gave Mr Entsch a call hoping for just a coffee and some advice.

Instead, the pair have jointly been meeting with and touring a number of community groups and organisations around the electorate.

“Talking to some of my other colleagues at ‘new MP school’, no one else has got this, and certainly no one else has got this from the other side of the aisle,” Mr Smith said about the mentorship

“(Senator) Nita Green has been fantastic this entire time … but he’s been really hands on and it’s been really great because you can’t replace 30 years of institutional knowledge overnight.

“I don’t think Warren would agree with the ‘adviser’ term,” Mr Smith said about the former member’s level of involvement.

COUCH Wellness Centre chairman Dr Scott Davis with retired MP Warren Entsch and Leichhardt MP Matt Smith discussing funding options for the care provider.

Mr Entsch said he accepted a role of “sharing the history” of the electorate, key issues and projects, but wouldn’t go as far as advising Mr Smith on decisions or votes.

“And I won’t be campaigning for him either, but he knows that,” Mr Entsch said.

“It’ll piss a lot of people off in the LNP and it’ll piss a lot of people off in Labor.

“But I’ve never seen in it 30 years of politics, this was his initiative.”

Mr Entsch said some of the early meetings included COUCH, Headspace, The Junction Clubhouse, proponents of the stalled Daintree Microgrid project Volt, as well as history lessons on the reinsurance pool and the marine precinct’s Common User Facility, and recommended electorate suppliers.

“I’m not writing his policy or anything and I’m not suddenly becoming a Labor member,” he said.

“I would hope that the information I provide him will make a far more informed decision, and it will benefit the community more broadly.”

Originally published as Leichhardt MP Matt Smith to start parliament journey after LNP mentorship from Warren Entsch