Smith, Wayne., former member for South Coast in the New South Wales legislative assembly (1999-march 2003)(ALP)

Smith secured pre-selection as the Australian Labor Party candiate in 1999. The dark horse of the race, Smith previously was a High School teacher at Vincentia High School with a comparitively low profile in the constituancy. Despite this, consistant campaigning on the ground paied off with one of the smallest winning margins in the history of the N.S.W. legisltive assembly, scrapping in with just a couple of hundred votes after preferences, amid the back drop of high public support for the Carr Labor government. During his short career as an MP, Smith was continually hindered by Jo Gash, federal member for Gilmore (the constituancy coverning most of the south coast state seat.) Gash proved successful in using Smith as a scape goat for what she saw as Premier Carr's apparent lack of interest in the constituancy in the areas of Health and education. Smith was handicapped in his ability to secure additional services, being a back bencher in a government with seats to spare.

By March 2003, the Carr govermnet of which smith was a member was seen as un stoppable , with polls predicting an increased majority for Labor. However Smith had a battle on his hands in the form of former Shoalhaven city council member and Ulladulla High teacher Shelley Hancock, who had secured the Liberal party pre-selection after a bitter battle with the Mayor of Shoalhaven, Greg Watson. Hancock was assited with the approval of Gash, the hugely popular local Federal MP. Gash proved an influential tool in Hancock's campaign arsenal.

Smith was hopeful of retaining his seat and was shocked when final results showed that Hancock had defeated the incumbent with a 1500 vote majority. Many believed that the Sussex st machine could have done more for Smith, who was crowned with the dubious honour of being the only Labor incumbent to lose his seat in an election that is noted for the dimise of the N.S.W. Liberals, not thier ability to win seats.

An apparently bitter Smith let his thoughts be known on his way out, being quoted in the South coast Register as stating that the South Coast will become the 'forgotten' seat. Smith has since relocated from the exclusive Hyams Beach to the Sydney area