Ellie Smith, unanticipatedly stepping into the political arena, is running as an independent candidate for the marginal seat of Dickson, currently held by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. With the community expressing dissatisfaction with Dutton’s 24-year tenure—particularly his perceived absence and lack of local representation—Smith emerged as the last candidate willing to challenge him.
“We spoke to a lot of potential candidates, but ultimately, many had their reasons for not running,” Smith explained. As a 40-year-old environmental consultant and a resident of Camp Mountain, she is rallying grassroots support, boasting a campaign team of 500 volunteers and over 3,000 locals, including 1,000 donors. Her campaign initially comprised a small group discussing the desire for an independent representative for their community.
Smith’s platform focuses on pressing local issues such as the escalating cost of living, encompassing soaring energy and grocery prices, along with housing and homelessness challenges. Additionally, she emphasizes the need for improved infrastructure, particularly road transport, citing existing traffic issues that hinder residents’ access to work.
Despite her background in environmental advocacy, Smith acknowledges that economic concerns dominate local priorities, asserting, “I think people just want cheaper power bills.” She is optimistic about her chances against Dutton, particularly in light of the under 2% margin in voting preference, and highlights the advantages of the preferential voting system, which allows voters to select their preferences amongst various candidates: “People can put either me or Labor first, and they can preference as they wish.”
Confident in the influence independents can wield in Parliament, Smith believes many local issues can be addressed without waiting for broader legislative changes. “There’s a lot that can be done, particularly regarding funding and support for local projects,” she said.
As she embarks on this political journey, Smith embodies a shift towards independent representation, reflecting a growing desire among constituents for local leaders who prioritise community concerns over party lines.