The federal Labor member for Bean, David Smith, has burst from his political slumber to offer unsolicited advice on the way the Australian Capital Territory is administered.

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After keeping a remarkably low profile in the Albanese government, the backbencher has suddenly launched two major interventions. He is advocating for a sweeping review of the territory's self-government arrangements and the creation of a regional joint economic commission to drive regional investment.

Politically, the motivation behind this sudden burst of energy is transparent. Mr Smith came perilously close to losing his seat to an independent candidate at the last federal election. With the political glow of independent senator David Pocock still shining brightly across Canberra, Mr Smith clearly recognises that maintaining a quiet presence in Parliament is the surest way to end his political career.

Critics have been quick to highlight the shortcomings in his approach. The ACT is currently suffering under an inequitable GST distribution, with the federal government content to hand Western Australia a massive financial advantage because it remains a crucial swing state at the ballot box. Instead of putting the acid on his federal colleagues to secure........

© Canberra Times