Hi, I’m Phil Scott

Supported by a Top End community movement, I ran as a Community Independent at the 2025 federal election in Solomon (Darwin and Palmerston) and at the 2026 Nightcliff by-election in the Northern Territory. Together, we built a community of hundreds of volunteers and supporters, secured a record vote for a federal independent in the Northern Territory and showed that Territorians are moving to wanting representatives who'll put people's interests before political party interests. The Community Independents movement is holding both major parties to account.

I've built a career in both the not-for-profit and government sectors, listening to and working with communities, bringing people together to solve complex problems, and building the core elements of strong communities: connections (between people, places and services); creative use of resources; empowerment; engagement (in decision making); innovation; respect for differences; trust; and a willingness to donate their skills and time to others. I know that strong communities don't happen by accident, they're built through collaboration, smart investment, and a deep respect for the people who call our place home.

Like so many locals, I see the challenges we face — rising costs of living; decades of major parties favouring multinationals over small businesses who are the real drivers of our local economy; major party corruption and incompetence; decades of inadequate funding for education, health, housing and programs that work; and growing inequality. I see how the major parties are failing to represent our community.

Now, like other Community Independent campaigns across Australia, suddenly there is a real alternative at election time to give us a real voice in Parliament, real hope for better representation and better outcomes for ordinary people, and a real coming together of people from different viewpoints and backgrounds to strengthen the many things that unite us and work towards a better future.

I'm open to standing again at the next election due in 2028 but encourage and support any thoughtful, courageous person who cares for our community, local economy, natural spaces and clean, fair, honest government to stand for up for our Territory. Democracy isn't a spectator sport. We have an opportunity now to deepen our collaboration as a community, to discuss the solutions that would make the Northern Territory a better place to live, and to hold our current representatives to account. In a world where democracy seems to be going backwards everywhere, our movement is showing how the simplest thing – working with your neighbours – is able to save it. I invite you to come to one of our events, to meet me, and to learn how you can be involved.

As a staunch Independent, I can be accountable only to you, not some party machine. That's the way democracy should be. We've got to use it or lose it so don't wait, come and join me!

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