Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We are continuing Meet the Candidate series for the Seat
of Solomon, and joining me live on the line is
the Independent Phil Scott.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Good morning to you, Phil, Good morning Katie. Great to
be with you.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Good to have you on the show. Phil, a number
of questions. You've got eight minutes, and I've had a
couple of additional ones for you, but I might ask
you those at the end of the eight minutes, if
that's all right, Yeah, no stress, All right, you're ready.
Let's get into it now. Phil. First off, why do
you think you're the best person to represent the seat
(00:33):
of Solomon.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Because my background's in community building, and because I've been
actually having conversations hundreds of them with community for a
few years now, and because we are supported by volunteers,
hundreds of volunteers from across Darwin and Palmerston who are
all motivated by the same things and who are now
(00:56):
organizing together around this way of having community representation, which
is grassroots, which has volunteer driven, and which was also
really fun because we realize that we've got a lot
of power in ourselves as a community.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
The cost of living has been raised on this show
is the number one issue for voters what will you
do to lower the cost of living for those in Solomon.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
So we have a lot of power as an independent
The cost of living is the way it is because
there are only two parties have been in power for
decades now. So the position that we find ourselves in
paying through the nose for our groceries, for our power bills,
for our rents, and for our housing is because these
(01:42):
two parties have created the system to be this way.
What we're saying is that we want to hold them
accountable for implementing recommendations of the Supermarkets Inquiry. We've got
two of the most profitable and powerful supermarkets in the
world world. It's a duopoly. It shouldn't be that way,
(02:03):
and we're not taken money from the supermarkets, so we're
actually able to speak up and say we want to
change that dynamic. The same goes for power bills. We're
not taking money from gas companies, so we're able to say,
you know what we want. We want to address the
cost of living by bringing down the cost of power
for everybody and including in especially small businesses, so that
(02:27):
they can they can manufacture things and they can deliver
services a lot cheaper. We also want to address cost
of living by through cheaper flights. Again, we've got another duopoly.
It's not just two big parties, it's not just two
big supermarkets. It's two airlines who have got who have
captured the airline market. And again we're saying they donate
(02:51):
to major parties and so they have their interests served.
But we as a community, the people of the territory
are a distant third to to the corporations and to
the major parties. Our interests are coming third and all
of this so we want to shake that up.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Phil Obviously you say that as an independent you've got
a lot of power. But how if we don't end
up with a hung parliament, how will you make sure
that those voices are heard?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah, good question. Essentially, at the moment, we don't our
voice is being ignored. Wet. We've got people doing it
tough here in the territory. We've got really abysmal health outcomes,
we've got really abysmal community safety outcomes. And what have
our major party representatives been saying about it? What have
(03:41):
they been doing about it? There's no power in having
a backbencher ignored by some party room bosses. Three thousand
kilometers away who don't give U stuff about the territory.
We want, we want somebody in there having a bit
of a scrap and standing up for us and actually
speaking out about out what's in territorian's interests at a
(04:02):
national level, and that's where the power lies. And the
independents have been able to show that they've got a
lot of good outcomes for their communities just by being
in there and just by having a voice.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Phil crime continues to be an issue for the Northern Territory.
If you are elected as a federal member, how do
you feel that the well, what do you feel could
be done by the federal government to try and support
the Northern Territory government in this space?
Speaker 2 (04:31):
So many things, so again, people are really angry about this,
and people have been really let down by a lot
of false and empty promises from the major parties who
for decades have been talking about, oh, yeah, well we're
going to address the crime issue, We're going to get
tough on it and whatever the whatever, whatever they say
(04:54):
they're going to do hasn't worked. We're in this situation
because of the actions and inactions of two groups of people,
two parties whose power brokers don't sit in the territory,
They sit somewhere else and in the end don't really
give us stuff about us. So an independent, we can
bring together law enforcement. Police have given us a lot
(05:14):
of messages about what's working and what's not working, And
their voices aren't being heard in this dynamic, as the
voices of the families and the offenders themselves aren't being heard.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
We are on this show philed. They really are a
streaming out for help. So what would you do as
an independent to try and turb the crime that we're seeing?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Bring together law enforcement, community leaders, and residents to develop
solutions that keep us safe. Also address these issues in
the early stages. So it does not work to be
addressing the crime after it's happened, does it, Like it
cost one point three million dollars to keep one person
(06:04):
in jail for twelve months, Like if we've had an
increase in eight hundred people I think in jail since
August last year, we're getting up towards a billion bucks
for what outcome, Like sixty percent of these people are
going to come out of jail and re offend again
because we caught were trying to address the issue way
(06:25):
too late invest in that. I've got a background in
community building and community development. Investing in that child, that infant,
that baby, and it's mum and dad, that family in
those early years, in the first five years is all
where it's at. You've give enough supports to them at
those stages, you give them a great start in life.
(06:46):
Your return on investment in that child's life is massive,
and you give all the wrap round services that they need.
I'm a rugby coach as well. If I see a
kid in my team who looks like they're going off
the rails, I've got a responsibility to that kid, and
as a member of the community to ask myself, right, oh,
(07:08):
what role have I got in all of this to
help that kid out? And where can I go? Where
are the local properly funded service providers that are actually
going to work for that kid, that young person and
give them a proper start in life and steer them
away from the justice system.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Well, we've only got about a minute left and I've
still got quite a bit to ask. Migration numbers they're
looking to be an issue for both the major parties.
They saying they want less migration as Australia struggles through
the housing crisis. What do you think needs to happen
for us here in the Northern Territory. Given the fact
that we do need international students at charles Dale and University,
(07:46):
we also obviously need to fill some of those critical jobs.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, absolutely we do. If we want to steal critical jobs.
Let's look at the sorts of training that we're providing
to our young people here, I mean university. Sure, one
model is to have them as a business, but we
want to make sure that university education for our kids
and young people is is as cheap and low as possible.
(08:13):
They're paying through the nose and they're coming out of
union with massive debts that they're going to have to
pay off. We could be again charging big corporations to
pay for that and not have to rely on this
university as a business type model that we've got. Immigration
has been six figures since the early two thousands, and
(08:33):
it's one of the big reasons that housing as expensive
as it is. So I fully support an interrogation of
immigration numbers and whether they should be as high as
they are.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Phil That is your eight minutes. But look, I've had
a couple of listener questions for you. This morning, So
I'm just going to try and pump through them really
fast so that we're not giving you an unfair advantage.
One of those was how long of your lives here
in the Northern Territory. That's from somebody wanting to vote independent,
but they don't want to blow in great.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Well, I've lived here over three years. I've had family
here since the early eighties, and if they want somebody
who's going to actually be able to do something decent
about the territory, my background in community development and community
building is what I'm standing on, and we've got a
lot of old Darwin supporting this independent movement.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
So three so three years or a bit over three
years now. Another one you said earlier in the week
that you were two points behind the ALP on polling.
Are you going to release that polling?
Speaker 2 (09:45):
I'm yeah, I guess I'm not sure. Do we release polling?
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Well, well, I guess if you are. If you are
saying that you're going to be open and transparent, then
it is definitely part of being open and transper and I.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Would argue, yeah, oh yeah, absolutely. If the if the
major parties released polling, then.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Well usually we don't. I mean we usually the different polling,
like you know, the if I know, to the media, definitely.
If if somebody refers to polling, usually it's actually the
pollsters it releases.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Okay, great, well, look where none of us have any
political experience. I'm a volunteer. Everybody who's supporting this campaign.
A lot of people actually have given up their jobs
to even give us a crack at leveling the playing
field and having a go at this. So to be honest,
none of us have ever done this before, and and
(10:42):
we're sticking it to the major parties, and we're noticing
that they're getting really really sensitive about how popular we are,
and and they're trying to play a lot of heat
to us. So we don't want to give away anything.
It's not for me.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
It's not that it's you know, it's asking for that
openness and transparency. So I guess if you know, like
if you've referred to the polling, then eighties like it
is about being open and transparent.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Yeah, I see, I see no issue with it.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
And awesome, Hey another one, are you I know with
a lot of the TILL candidates across the nation, they
are funded by Climate two hundred, are you.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Yeah, we're on the record as having received funding from
Climate two hundred, which is crowd funding from everyday Australians
right across the country.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Is also though, but is it also Simon Holmes of Court,
who is indeed a wealthy businessman.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Again, major parties are saying that because they they want
to distract Well, look and they're the billionaire I was.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Going to say, Phil, I wouldn't argue that they are
definitely funded by you know, well for labor, by you know, unions.
People would argue for the lubs, you would say that
they are funded by property developers whoever. But again, I
guess if you're running on a campaign of being open
and transparent, then that is definitely something to ask.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Yeah, definitely, And he, as I understand it, his contribution
is about two percent of whatever money is crowdfunded from
those every day assis through Climate two hundred. All right,
But he's not a big figure in this unlike unlike
the big corporations and the big billionaires who donate to
the parties that we don't receive anything from. And we're
(12:35):
doing a lot of our own fundraising as well, so
we're totally open about where we're getting our funding from.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Good to know well Phil Scott, the Independent running for
the Seed of Solomon. Mate had You've got more questions
on the text line this morning than anybody else, so
I appreciate you answering those for us. Thank you very
much for your time this morning. Good to catch up.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
With you, my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Good on you, Thank you, thanks so much.
We are continuing Meet the Candidate series for the Seat
of Solomon, and joining me live on the line is
the Independent Phil Scott.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Good morning to you, Phil, Good morning Katie. Great to
be with you.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Good to have you on the show. Phil, a number
of questions. You've got eight minutes, and I've had a
couple of additional ones for you, but I might ask
you those at the end of the eight minutes, if
that's all right, Yeah, no stress, All right, you're ready.
Let's get into it now. Phil. First off, why do
you think you're the best person to represent the seat
(00:33):
of Solomon.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Because my background's in community building, and because I've been
actually having conversations hundreds of them with community for a
few years now, and because we are supported by volunteers,
hundreds of volunteers from across Darwin and Palmerston who are
all motivated by the same things and who are now
(00:56):
organizing together around this way of having community representation, which
is grassroots, which has volunteer driven, and which was also
really fun because we realize that we've got a lot
of power in ourselves as a community.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
The cost of living has been raised on this show
is the number one issue for voters what will you
do to lower the cost of living for those in Solomon.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
So we have a lot of power as an independent
The cost of living is the way it is because
there are only two parties have been in power for
decades now. So the position that we find ourselves in
paying through the nose for our groceries, for our power bills,
for our rents, and for our housing is because these
(01:42):
two parties have created the system to be this way.
What we're saying is that we want to hold them
accountable for implementing recommendations of the Supermarkets Inquiry. We've got
two of the most profitable and powerful supermarkets in the
world world. It's a duopoly. It shouldn't be that way,
(02:03):
and we're not taken money from the supermarkets, so we're
actually able to speak up and say we want to
change that dynamic. The same goes for power bills. We're
not taking money from gas companies, so we're able to say,
you know what we want. We want to address the
cost of living by bringing down the cost of power
for everybody and including in especially small businesses, so that
(02:27):
they can they can manufacture things and they can deliver
services a lot cheaper. We also want to address cost
of living by through cheaper flights. Again, we've got another duopoly.
It's not just two big parties, it's not just two
big supermarkets. It's two airlines who have got who have
captured the airline market. And again we're saying they donate
(02:51):
to major parties and so they have their interests served.
But we as a community, the people of the territory
are a distant third to to the corporations and to
the major parties. Our interests are coming third and all
of this so we want to shake that up.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Phil Obviously you say that as an independent you've got
a lot of power. But how if we don't end
up with a hung parliament, how will you make sure
that those voices are heard?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah, good question. Essentially, at the moment, we don't our
voice is being ignored. Wet. We've got people doing it
tough here in the territory. We've got really abysmal health outcomes,
we've got really abysmal community safety outcomes. And what have
our major party representatives been saying about it? What have
(03:41):
they been doing about it? There's no power in having
a backbencher ignored by some party room bosses. Three thousand
kilometers away who don't give U stuff about the territory.
We want, we want somebody in there having a bit
of a scrap and standing up for us and actually
speaking out about out what's in territorian's interests at a
(04:02):
national level, and that's where the power lies. And the
independents have been able to show that they've got a
lot of good outcomes for their communities just by being
in there and just by having a voice.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Phil crime continues to be an issue for the Northern Territory.
If you are elected as a federal member, how do
you feel that the well, what do you feel could
be done by the federal government to try and support
the Northern Territory government in this space?
Speaker 2 (04:31):
So many things, so again, people are really angry about this,
and people have been really let down by a lot
of false and empty promises from the major parties who
for decades have been talking about, oh, yeah, well we're
going to address the crime issue, We're going to get
tough on it and whatever the whatever, whatever they say
(04:54):
they're going to do hasn't worked. We're in this situation
because of the actions and inactions of two groups of people,
two parties whose power brokers don't sit in the territory,
They sit somewhere else and in the end don't really
give us stuff about us. So an independent, we can
bring together law enforcement. Police have given us a lot
(05:14):
of messages about what's working and what's not working, And
their voices aren't being heard in this dynamic, as the
voices of the families and the offenders themselves aren't being heard.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
We are on this show philed. They really are a
streaming out for help. So what would you do as
an independent to try and turb the crime that we're seeing?
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Bring together law enforcement, community leaders, and residents to develop
solutions that keep us safe. Also address these issues in
the early stages. So it does not work to be
addressing the crime after it's happened, does it, Like it
cost one point three million dollars to keep one person
(06:04):
in jail for twelve months, Like if we've had an
increase in eight hundred people I think in jail since
August last year, we're getting up towards a billion bucks
for what outcome, Like sixty percent of these people are
going to come out of jail and re offend again
because we caught were trying to address the issue way
(06:25):
too late invest in that. I've got a background in
community building and community development. Investing in that child, that infant,
that baby, and it's mum and dad, that family in
those early years, in the first five years is all
where it's at. You've give enough supports to them at
those stages, you give them a great start in life.
(06:46):
Your return on investment in that child's life is massive,
and you give all the wrap round services that they need.
I'm a rugby coach as well. If I see a
kid in my team who looks like they're going off
the rails, I've got a responsibility to that kid, and
as a member of the community to ask myself, right, oh,
(07:08):
what role have I got in all of this to
help that kid out? And where can I go? Where
are the local properly funded service providers that are actually
going to work for that kid, that young person and
give them a proper start in life and steer them
away from the justice system.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Well, we've only got about a minute left and I've
still got quite a bit to ask. Migration numbers they're
looking to be an issue for both the major parties.
They saying they want less migration as Australia struggles through
the housing crisis. What do you think needs to happen
for us here in the Northern Territory. Given the fact
that we do need international students at charles Dale and University,
(07:46):
we also obviously need to fill some of those critical jobs.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, absolutely we do. If we want to steal critical jobs.
Let's look at the sorts of training that we're providing
to our young people here, I mean university. Sure, one
model is to have them as a business, but we
want to make sure that university education for our kids
and young people is is as cheap and low as possible.
(08:13):
They're paying through the nose and they're coming out of
union with massive debts that they're going to have to
pay off. We could be again charging big corporations to
pay for that and not have to rely on this
university as a business type model that we've got. Immigration
has been six figures since the early two thousands, and
(08:33):
it's one of the big reasons that housing as expensive
as it is. So I fully support an interrogation of
immigration numbers and whether they should be as high as
they are.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Phil That is your eight minutes. But look, I've had
a couple of listener questions for you. This morning, So
I'm just going to try and pump through them really
fast so that we're not giving you an unfair advantage.
One of those was how long of your lives here
in the Northern Territory. That's from somebody wanting to vote independent,
but they don't want to blow in great.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Well, I've lived here over three years. I've had family
here since the early eighties, and if they want somebody
who's going to actually be able to do something decent
about the territory, my background in community development and community
building is what I'm standing on, and we've got a
lot of old Darwin supporting this independent movement.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
So three so three years or a bit over three
years now. Another one you said earlier in the week
that you were two points behind the ALP on polling.
Are you going to release that polling?
Speaker 2 (09:45):
I'm yeah, I guess I'm not sure. Do we release polling?
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Well, well, I guess if you are. If you are
saying that you're going to be open and transparent, then
it is definitely part of being open and transper and I.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Would argue, yeah, oh yeah, absolutely. If the if the
major parties released polling, then.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Well usually we don't. I mean we usually the different polling,
like you know, the if I know, to the media, definitely.
If if somebody refers to polling, usually it's actually the
pollsters it releases.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Okay, great, well, look where none of us have any
political experience. I'm a volunteer. Everybody who's supporting this campaign.
A lot of people actually have given up their jobs
to even give us a crack at leveling the playing
field and having a go at this. So to be honest,
none of us have ever done this before, and and
(10:42):
we're sticking it to the major parties, and we're noticing
that they're getting really really sensitive about how popular we are,
and and they're trying to play a lot of heat
to us. So we don't want to give away anything.
It's not for me.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
It's not that it's you know, it's asking for that
openness and transparency. So I guess if you know, like
if you've referred to the polling, then eighties like it
is about being open and transparent.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Yeah, I see, I see no issue with it.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
And awesome, Hey another one, are you I know with
a lot of the TILL candidates across the nation, they
are funded by Climate two hundred, are you.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Yeah, we're on the record as having received funding from
Climate two hundred, which is crowd funding from everyday Australians
right across the country.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Is also though, but is it also Simon Holmes of Court,
who is indeed a wealthy businessman.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Again, major parties are saying that because they they want
to distract Well, look and they're the billionaire I was.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Going to say, Phil, I wouldn't argue that they are
definitely funded by you know, well for labor, by you know, unions.
People would argue for the lubs, you would say that
they are funded by property developers whoever. But again, I
guess if you're running on a campaign of being open
and transparent, then that is definitely something to ask.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Yeah, definitely, And he, as I understand it, his contribution
is about two percent of whatever money is crowdfunded from
those every day assis through Climate two hundred. All right,
But he's not a big figure in this unlike unlike
the big corporations and the big billionaires who donate to
the parties that we don't receive anything from. And we're
(12:35):
doing a lot of our own fundraising as well, so
we're totally open about where we're getting our funding from.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Good to know well Phil Scott, the Independent running for
the Seed of Solomon. Mate had You've got more questions
on the text line this morning than anybody else, so
I appreciate you answering those for us. Thank you very
much for your time this morning. Good to catch up.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
With you, my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Good on you, Thank you, thanks so much.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.