Married At First Sight groom Tim Smith gears up to run for seat of Melbourne at federal election

Former MAFS TV groom Tim Smith is self funding his campaign for the upcoming federal election, hoping to win voters in the seat of Melbourne — but will his colourful past hinder his run?

Former Married At First Sight reality star Tim Smith is running for the seat of Melbourne in the 2025 federal election. Picture: Supplied

Former Married At First Sight TV groom Tim Smith turned independent candidate is ready for a political fight as the federal election looms.

Aware that being a former reality television participant and having spent time in a US prison for his role in a drug importing operation in the early 2000s gives his opponents opportunities for cheap shots at him, Smith is remaining focused on appealing to voters in the seat of Melbourne in the soon to be announced election.

The seat is held by the Greens’ Adam Bandt.

“I think you get to a certain age, and when you are sitting on the sidelines, you just get more and more disgusted with how things run, so you either stand up or shut up,” Smith said of his surprise decision to enter the political fray.

“I have been in Melbourne for 10 years and in that 10 years Australia has not got better, and neither has Melbourne.

“I think we just need some people with common sense (in politics).”

Tim Smith was a contestant on MAFS. Picture: Instagram

Smith is self funding his campaign, will be using social media to push out his policies and priorities and is promising “straight talk.”

Crime, safety, cost of living, affordable housing, and taxes on food and alcohol are among his areas of interest. His website is timsmithformelbourne.com

He believes a tougher approach to violent crime needs to be taken regardless of the age of the offenders.

“I have a unique take on crime,” he said.

“Obviously I have got a past. I think the jails here are a joke, if you do time in another country you understand what punishment is and by all means you don’t want to do it again.”

His colourful past is not something he sees as a hindrance.

“Honestly, if every single person says they have never made a mistake in their lives and they have lived holier than holy, then good on you, but if you can make the mistake, learn from the mistake and move on, who is there to judge,” he said.

Tim Smith is hoping to win voters over with a ‘unique take on crime’. Picture: Supplied

Helping him out in an informal manner is Smith’s mate Seb Costello.

“Seb is employed by Channel 9. He did a story on me (after MAFS) and we became friends,” Smith said.

“We catch up and have dinner. Seb’s been a sounding board for me, as a mate, nothing official. He works for Nine.”

Smith promised he would not hold back with his opinions during the campaign.

“When you are part of a party you have to speak a certain way, but for me as an independent I can guarantee it will be straight talk,” he said.