Douglas Scott

Douglas Barr Scott (12 May 1920 – 12 March 2012) was an Australian politician. He was a Senator for New South Wales from 1974 to 1985 and also briefly filled a casual vacancy in 1970. He was Minister for Special Trade Representations in the Fraser government from 1979 to 1980. He was a member of the National Party – earlier known as the Country Party and National Country Party – and was his party's Senate leader from 1980 to 1985.

Early life Scott was born on 12 May 1920 in Prospect, South Australia. He was the son of Clara Josephine (née White) and James Barr Scott.

Scott spent his early years on his father's sheep and wheat property "Glenview" near Grenfell, New South Wales. He was educated via correspondence until the age of nine, when his family moved to Adelaide to live with his maternal grandparents. Scott attended Scotch College, Adelaide, for seven years including two years as a boarder. He was the top South Australian student in Latin in 1938 and, after briefly returning to Grenfell to work on the family property, matriculated to the University of Sydney in 1939, studying a combined arts-law degree. He later served on the New Guinea campaign before being discharged in October 1945. He chose not to recontest the vacancy at the 1970 Senate election to aid the chances of incumbent Country Party senator Tom Bull, running on third position on the Coalition ticket. His first term consequently ended on 20 November 1970, with Democratic Labor Party candidate Jack Kane defeating Bull for the final vacancy.

Scott was re-endorsed by the Country Party in 1973 and at the 1974 federal election was elected to a six-year term beginning on 1 July 1974. His term was cut short by a double dissolution, but he was re-elected to further terms at the 1975, 1980 and 1983 elections. He chose not to recontest his seat at the 1984 election, with his term ending on 30 June 1985.

Personal life In 1948, Scott married Pamela McLean, with whom he had two children. After leaving the Senate he retired to his property near Grenfell. He died on 12 March 2012 in Forbes, New South Wales, aged 91.