Getting Started

You have to decide if you have a genuine chance of capturing enough primary votes to make it all worthwhile. It may be more realistic to plan a campaign that will take several years, or a couple of election cycles, to realise.

You will need a record of commitment to your community, and ideally some experience in local government.

The fact is you will need to come at least second in the primary vote.

Because you are well respected in your electorate you should expect second preferences to flow your way, whatever the major parties might indicate on their How-to-Vote cards.

Veteran local, state and federal independent Ted Mack says an independent candidate, starting from scratch, announcing his/her candidature 12 months before an election, door knocking all houses in the electorate during that period, and with enough financial resources to buy some print, radio and perhaps (regional) television advertising and letter box drop literature, could expect to get 8% at the first attempt. That result is then built on next time around.

Obviously not every independent has the resources or determination to hang in there for two goes, but that is the reality of building up profile and trust in the electorate.

On the other hand, there may be circumstances that give you a ready-made profile that would automatically boost your primary vote at the first attempt. You may have a high profile in agri-politics, or business, or in local government or other community activities. As stated earlier, such community involvement is a prerequisite for anyone seriously contemplating serving as an independent member.

Independent federal Member for Calare (NSW) Peter Andren was a local radio/TV news editor for many years before running successfully at his first attempt in Calare electorate in 1996. He also had a long connection with community activities over two decades.

That recognition factor was obviously of enormous benefit in his first campaign. In fact he topped the primary vote on 29%, with Labor Party preferences taking him to 67% on the two-candidate count, the Coalition finishing second.

In 1998 he obtained 41% of the primary vote, with Coalition preferences taking him to 72% on a two-candidate count, with Labor second. The importance of broad-based support across the community is obvious.

Tony Windsor, another federal independent, achieved a high profile through involvement in farm organisations, becoming the independent NSW state Member for Tamworth and then, in 2001, the federal Member for New England.

Tony and other established independents, state and federal, have enjoyed record or near-record majorities in state and federal parliaments which suggests that once people taste independent representation they strongly support it.

Getting that profile and trust in the first place is the major factor facing new independent candidates.

Obviously not all first-time candidates have that start-up profile, but it is essential to be well-known and trusted across the community if you are going to make an impression. Two years, or 18 months door knocking, public statements, meetings, addressing service club dinners, and seeking out issues can make up for a lower start-up profile and help develop community trust.

If you figure that you are in with a show, you need to establish a support network. Call a press conference, announce your intention to run and call for volunteers to help you.

You would have obtained all the booth voting figures from the electorate at the last election, and know that you will need three to four volunteers at each booth from 8am until 6 pm, to hand out your how-to-vote card. You will put out this call for supporters and volunteers in your first media release.

You will also need a campaign manager and a booth captain for each polling place.

You will need to budget for the campaign. The amount you spend will be your decision, but remember public funding is available for every primary vote (currently about $2 per vote). You should be prepared to expend around $50,000 to mount an effective campaign in a rural or regional seat. Some independent MPs and candidates feel the need to raise significant funds. The decision is yours - but remember that every dollar raised has the potential to compromise your independence. It would therefore be wise to impose your own cap on donations.