Matt Smith

Matthew Smith (born 30 November 1979) is an Australian politician and former basketball player. He played seven seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 1999 and 2009. He was elected a member of the Australian Parliament for the Division of Leichhardt representing the Labor Party after winning the seat in the 2025 federal election.

Early life Smith was born in Sale, Victoria. He played for the Sale Sonics as a teenager. Smith has Indigenous Australian heritage.

Basketball career NBL and college In 1996, Smith served as a training player with the Geelong Supercats in the National Basketball League (NBL). He served in a similar role with the North Melbourne Giants in 1997.

Smith returned to the United States to play college basketball for Lander University between 2000 and 2003.

For the 2003–04 NBL season, Smith played for the Victoria Giants. At the time, he was the Taipans' record holder for blocked shots.

State leagues In 2000, Smith played for the Albury Wodonga Bandits in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL). In 2003, he played for the Knox Raiders in the SEABL.

In 2004 and 2005, Smith played for the Sandringham Sabres in the Big V.

In 2009, Smith played for the Hobart Chargers in the SEABL.

Between 2013 and 2015, Smith played three seasons for the Cairns Marlins in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL). On 7 January 2025, Smith, along with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Senator for Queensland Nita Green, announced almost $39 million for social housing and community infrastructure projects in the Cape York region in far north Queensland. Of the $39 million, according to the announcement, $24.9m would be allocated through the Housing Support Program package to boost social housing in the northernmost part of the state. On 3 May 2025, he was elected a member of the Australian Parliament for the Division of Leichhardt after winning the seat in the 2025 federal election. Smith is affiliated with the Labor Left.