Mr Smith, who gave his second first speech in the lower house after first serving as a senator, represents the far-flung Norfolk Island as well as the Tuggeranong, Woden and Weston Creek areas of Canberra.

"Many of the issues the people of Norfolk Island face are of our making, and we certainly have the power to solve them together," Mr Smith said.

"You can imagine that being part of an electorate that is largely urban and landlocked and is 1900 kilometres away is not the most obvious fit for effective representation."

"This is exacerbated by the lack of representation at a territory level of a kind similar to that which exists in the ACT or NT. Indeed there is an absence of any democratically elected territory-level representation."

Mr Smith called for Norfolk Island to be given more rights of representation at the Council of Australian Governments, and self-determination.

"We should not abridge the basic right of all Australians for self-determination in the delivery of services that affect them in their daily lives. At the moment there is significant doubt over the delivery of education services to Norfolk Island once the New South Wales government withdraws its services in 2021."

"My commitment to my constituents on the island is to work with them and the Government over the next three years to tackle these challenges and issues and work on a path towards ensuring the people of Norfolk have a genuine voice and influence over matters that we take for granted.

"A good start would be providing external territories a voice at COAG."

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Norfolk Island is about 1400 kilometres east of Brisbane, and in the 20^th century existed with self-government, but that was abolished by the Australian government in 2016, to the consternation of many on the remote island.

In the lead up to the end of self-government, Norfolk Island had asked the federal government for funding as money looked like it was running out for running services.

In the years since the Australian government took over responsibility for delivering services, the New South Wales government has been responsible for delivering education, but has signaled it won't continue after 2021. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull had approached ACT chief minister Andrew Barr about providing services, but Mr Barr has said that would be "highly unlikely".

Mr Smith called for technology to allow more connection between the island and the Australian mainland.

"We need to ensure it has modern and fast communications facilities so its beauty can be shared, and to overcome the tyranny of distance so residents and visitors can work, play and integrate with the broader Australian economy."