Sam McMahon

Samantha Jane McMahon^[1] (born 11 December 1967) is an Australian politician who has been a Senator for the Northern Territory since the 2019 federal election. She is a member of the Country Liberal Party and sits with the National Party in federal parliament. She was a veterinarian in Katherine before entering politics.^[2]

Early life[]

McMahon was born in Sydney on 11 December 1967.^[3] She grew up on a farm in Nanango, Queensland. She completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland.^[4]

Career[]

McMahon accepted a position in the Northern Territory after her graduation. She has owned and operated veterinary practices in Katherine,^[5] Howard Springs, Nhulunbuy, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs. She was a national director of the Australian Veterinary Association for five years and president of the Northern Territory division for two years.^[4] She became a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2003.^[6] She won the Centenary Medal for business leadership in 2001,^[7] was awarded the Australian Veterinary Association Meritorious Service Award in 2014,^[8] and was awarded the NT Telstra small business award in 2017.^[9]

Politics[]

In March 2019, McMahon won preselection to replace Nigel Scullion as the Country Liberal Party's lead Senate candidate at the 2019 federal election.^[10] She was elected to a term beginning on 18 May 2019,^[11] and chose to sit with the National Party in federal parliament, as did her predecessor Scullion.^[12] In May 2021 she was appointed chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories.^[3]

In June 2021, McMahon was defeated for CLP preselection at the next federal election by Jacinta Price.^[13] In the week leading up to the ballot, Nine Publishing reported that at least ten senators believed she had been visibly drunk while in the Senate chamber on 23 June. A spokesman stated that she was feeling "unwell" and that the allegations were part of a smear campaign to discredit her in the lead-up to the preselection.^[14]

In December 2021 it was alleged that following a 'boozey' Christmas party McMahon was escorted from the premises to a waiting taxi, at which point McMahon physically assaulted Nationals’ federal director and event organiser Jonathan Hawkes. ^[15]

Positions[]

In January 2020, during the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, McMahon tweeted that the Australian Greens' "ridiculous agenda" of opposing logging had "lead [sic] to these horrible fires". A Guardian Australia article published in the same month identified her as one of the "climate doubters" within the Coalition.^[16] In March 2020, McMahon argued that a nuclear power plant should be built in northern Australia to lower emissions and improve the country's economy.^[17]

In August 2021, McMahon announced she had drafted a bill to expand the legislative powers of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly and reduce the power of federal parliament to veto territory legislation. This would include a partial repeal of the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997, allowing the Legislative Assembly to legalise assisted suicide.^[18]

In November 2021, McMahon was one of five Liberal-aligned senators who voted against the government in support of One Nation’s COVID‑19 Vaccination Status (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill 2021.^[19][20]

Personal life[]

McMahon lives on a farm outside of Katherine and is an avid water skier and horse rider.^[4] In September 2019, McMahon announced that she had separated from her husband, Wayne Nayda.^[21]

References[]