New Leichhardt MP Matt Smith on his priorities

Newly elected Leichhardt MP Matt Smith has spoken about his first order of business while surrounded by unionists at the Queensland Unions’ Labour Day Parade.

Union members walk together along the Cairns Esplanade boardwalk in the annual Labour Day march in Cairns City. Picture: Brendan Radke

Newly elected Leichhardt MP Matt Smith said building a new urgent care clinic in Cairns was his first order of business while surrounded by unionists at the Queensland Unions’ Labour Day Parade.

Staff retention and wage increases were key issues for members at the Cairns parade, celebrating union wins fresh off the back of a federal and electorate triumph for the Australian Labor Party.

The former Together Union regional organiser said he was celebrating the past three years of Labor gains, including public servant pay rises and improved working conditions for women.

“We’ve got additional childcare places, so three days a week subsidised childcare, and that’s going to encourage more women into the workforce at a Queensland level,” Mr Smith said.

“The unions have been sticking up for workers rights, particularly in Australia, for well over a century, and this is just a celebration of what they’ve been able to achieve, be it maternity leave or weekends, all of that comes back to the union movement.”

Former regional organiser for the Together Union and new Member for Leichhardt, Matt Smith, speaks with union members at the conclusion of the annual Labour Day march in Cairns City. Picture: Brendan Radke

After he attends the Western Cape Futures Symposium in Weipa on May 7 and 8, Mr Smith said his focus was on new Cairns medical infrastructure.

“I’m looking forward to getting that urgent care clinic for the northern beaches up as soon as possible,” Mr Smith said.

“That’s really a high priority for the area to take pressure off the Cairns Base Hospital.”

Australian Council of Trade Unions organiser Steven Blacklow, who led the Labour Day parade along the Cairns Esplanade, said he believed worker issues helped deliver the election for the ALP.

“I’d like to think workers know which side their bread is buttered on,” Mr Blacklow said.

“Under the current federal government, we’ve seen a raft of benefits come in for workers. Things like ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ has been a big one in the mining and aviation industry, and substantial pay rises in female-dominated industries.”

Thomas Chan, Ray Wong and Steve Blacklow lead the annual Labour Day march along Wharf Street towards the Cairns Esplanade. Picture: Brendan Radke

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) organiser Rolly Cummins said he was not confident in a re-elected Labor government supporting the Far North union branch.

“We see that the LNP taxes workers and unions wherever they go. That’s just in their blood,” Mr Cummins said.

“We now have a Labor government that won the federal election, but recently they haven’t been too supportive of the CFMEU either, so we could be in for some bumpy times.”

In August 2024 the national executive announced it would suspend every state and territory branch of the CFMEU from affiliation with the ALP, due to alleged criminal behaviour within the union.

AMWU leader Ethan Marano, PPTEU leader Dan Gillett, ETU leader Rob Hill and CFMEU organiser Rolly Cummins unite together at the end of the annual Labour Day march in Cairns City. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Matt (Smith) is a nice bloke, but the problem with the Labor government these days is that one of the senior figures says something and the rest of them follow,” Mr Cummins said.

“So I’d like to think that Matt Smith would support the CFMEU, but the reality is he’ll probably just follow the party room.

“The Barlow Park stadium in Cairns will go ahead and Cooktown Hospital upgrade looks like it will go ahead. They’re looking at spending over $200 million there.

“So there’s plenty of work. The issue we have is actually finding the workers to service these jobs, because South East Queensland and the rest of regional Australia are quite busy too.”

Community and Public Sector Union organiser and former Labor representative for Leichhardt, Elida Faith, said she was celebrating “the 41,000 public service jobs that won’t be axed, as the LNP were proposing”.

“Matt (Smith) is going to be an absolute breath of fresh air. He’s very passionate about the electorate,” Ms Faith said.

Community and Public Sector Union member Elida Faith participates in the annual Labour Day march on the Cairns Esplanade. Picture: Brendan Radke

“But just because he’s Labor that doesn’t mean we won’t be knocking on his door and making sure that he is advocating for everyone in Leichhardt.

“A lot of people still are casual or intermittent workers…thankfully we are beginning to see less casuals, especially in the public service.”

Local school teacher Emma Gulliford brought her two children – Alfie, 5 and Daisy, 2 – to the Labour Day parade.

“We’re showing everyone that we support the union, and that we need the support now more than ever,” Ms Gulliford said.

“Fully funded state schools is our goal.

Queensland Teachers Union member Emma Gulliford and her children Alfie Cook, 5, and Daisy Cook, 2, participate in the annual Labour Day march along the Cairns Esplanade. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We also want to retain the teachers in the profession because the more teachers we get, the more teachers we keep, the better it is for our students.

“In the Far North it’s hard to attract teachers and even harder to retain them.

“(Alfie) goes to a state school, so this is what it’s all about, getting him the right to a great education.”

Cairns Hospital nurse and Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union delegate, Suri Hobday, also said that staff retention was critical in Far North Queensland.

“(Nurses) already have issues with lack of staffing,” Ms Hobday said.

Lilith Ryan, 8, walks with her mother, Suri Hobday, from the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union in the annual Labour Day march in Cairns City. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We’re unable to attract staff, and if our wages aren’t matched or become nation-leading we’ll lose all our staff. We won’t be able to provide that safe, quality patient care.

“It looks like nurses will be going into protected industrial action, because (Queensland Health) haven’t given us an offer that leads to nation-leading wages.”

Originally published as New Leichhardt MP Matt Smith on his priorities