Kenneth Maurice Smith (born 30 December 1944) is an Australian politician who is currently the member for Bass in the Victorian Legislative Assembly and Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.
Smith was a plumber before he entered the Parliament of Victoria in 1988, winning the Legislative Council seat of South-Eastern Province for the Liberal Party. During his time in the Legislative Council, Smith served on the backbench, although after being returned at the 1996 election he served as government Whip. When the Kennett government lost power in 1999, Smith continued on as Opposition whip.
The redistribution prior to the 2002 election abolished his upper house province, and Smith decided to contest the new seat Lower House seat of Bass, and challenge independent candidate Susan Davies. While the election was a disaster for the Liberal Party, Smith provided them with their only gain, winning the seat after Davies was unable to finish ahead of the Labor candidate and win on their preferences.
Smith served as Shadow Minister for Gaming and Shadow Minister for Fisheries.
In 2008 Smith put forward a private member's bill that would allow euthanasia in Victoria. The bill was similar to the Dying With Dignity Act in Oregon in the United States, and generated considerable controversy. The bill was defeated in the Victorian Legislative Council.
In 2009, Smith was unopposed for preselection for the seat of Bass and was re-endorsed by the Liberal Party as their candidate.
On December 21, 2010, Smith was elected unopposed as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly for the 57th Victorian Parliament.
Famous quotes containing the words ken and/or smith:
“Is America a land of God where saints abide for ever? Where golden fields spread fair and broad, where flows the crystal river? Certainly not flush with saints, and a good thing, too, for the saints sent buzzing into man’s ken now are but poor- mouthed ecclesiastical film stars and cliché-shouting publicity agents.
Their little knowledge bringing them nearer to their ignorance,
Ignorance bringing them nearer to death,
But nearness to death no nearer to God.”
—Sean O’Casey (1884–1964)
“A man gazing on the stars is proverbially at the mercy of the puddles in the road.”
—Alexander Smith (1830–1867)