  stephen francis smith (born 12 december 1955) is a former australian politician who was a labor member of the australian house of representatives from march 1993 to august 2013, representing the division of perth in western australia. his last ministerial appointment was the minister for defence, and he also served as minister for foreign affairs and minister for trade at various stages. smith was born in narrogin, western australia, and was educated at cbc highgate, the university of western australia and the university of london, where he earned a master's degree in law. he was a solicitor, lecturer and tutor before entering politics. he was principal private secretary to the western australian attorney-general, joe berinson 1983â87 and state secretary of the western australian labor party 1987â90stephen smith â elected secretary of the wa branch of alp labor voice, vol.9, no.4 (july/aug 1987), p.1, from 1990 to 1993 he was an adviser to paul keating, first as treasurer, then as prime minister. he was instrumental in securing caucus support in order for keating to defeat bob hawke for the labor party leadership in 1990 and thereby allowing keating to ascend to the prime ministership.{{cite book|last=watson|first=don|title=recollections of a bleeding heart|accessdate=3
1955_births Alumni_of_the_University_of_London Australian_Labor_Party_politicians Australian_ministers_for_Foreign_Affairs Australian_solicitors Gillard_Government Government_ministers_of_Australia Living_people Members_of_the_Australian_House_of_Representatives_for_Perth Members_of_the_Cabinet_of_Australia People_from_Narrogin,_Western_Australia Rudd_Government University_of_Western_Australia_alumni