Independent candidate for Callide Duncan Scott reveals drive behind shoestring election campaign

Living in a tin shed and running a word of mouth campaign on little more than a few hundred dollars, independent candidate Duncan Scott is contesting his ninth election, this time for the state seat of Callide. Here’s why he does it.

Living out of a tin shed and running a campaign off just a few hundred dollars, Callide independent candidate Duncan Scott has been punching above his weight for the better part of two decades.

Having run in every election since 2007, including six federal elections in Flynn and two state elections in Callide in 2012 and 2015, Mr Scott will look to make his ninth bid for parliament this month.

First running for Flynn in 2007 in protest of the council amalgamations which saw Flynn’s council numbers cut from 28 to nine, Mr Duncan believes in giving the people another option.

“Flynn was created in 2007 and I have mainly run there for the federal election. The first time I ran was during the amalgamation of the local councils and 90 per cent of people didn't want it but they went ahead with it so I wanted to give people another option to vote for,” he said.

“I am usually one of the only candidates on the western side of the Great Dividing Range and we are losing all of our services.

“Independents can't do too much but if we can find that one person who can make a decision and try to convince them to bring back services, that's my aim.”

Independent Candidate for the Seat of Flynn Duncan Scott. Photo Luka Kauzlaric / The Observer

Similar to his decision to run for federal parliament, Mr Duncan's first venture into Callide involved a fight against the powers that be during the privatisation of the Ergon network.

“I ran for Callide for the first time because they were aiming to privatise the Ergon network and every single candidate apart from the LNP were standing against it and I wanted to lend my voice to that as well,” he said.

Not possessing the financial backing of the major parties Mr Duncan has opted for a grassroots approach to his campaigns, relying almost solely on word of mouth.

“I am only one person and I fund all my own stuff, I’m a farmer and I live in a tin shed and I only have a couple of hundred dollars’ budget,” he said.

“All my money goes towards fuel to get out and see people.

“I don't have ‘how to vote’ cards because I feel everyone should make their own choice with who they select, I don't have posters because I think it is a waste. If I can't do it by word of mouth I shouldn't be there at all.”

In the 2022 Flynn federal election Mr Scott recorded a personal best of 3745 votes (4.1 per cent) and despite not competing with the major parties it has done little to dampen his spirits.

“A few other independents are starting to approach me now to set up their own small political partners and when they can’t get their 500 members they check me out and see if I have similar views to them and then they will support me,” he said.

“I’m a bloke who won’t take any money to my death so one of my promises is if I am elected I will donate half my salary to the Capricorn rescue helicopter, if you are earning such a high wage you don't understand the problems most people are going through.

“I will make mistakes because I will have a go and will aim to make people as independent as possible from the state government and the major corporations.

“People are still saying the same old thing, they aren't happy with the candidates in front of them and until I earn their respect and show them I am different I will keep going while I can.”

Originally published as Independent candidate for Callide Duncan Scott reveals drive behind shoestring election campaign