{{Short description|Australian politician}} {{for|another person|Sam McMahon (footballer)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Sam McMahon | honorific_suffix = | image = | title = [[List of senators from the Northern Territory|Senator for the Northern Territory]] | term_start = 18 May 2019 | term_end = 20 May 2022 | predecessor = [[Nigel Scullion]] | successor = [[Jacinta Nampijinpa Price]] | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|12|11|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = Wayne Nayda | party = [[Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)|Liberal Democratic]] <small>(since April 2022)</small> | other_party = [[Independent politician|Independent]] <small>(January–April 2022)</small><br />[[Country Liberal Party|Country Liberal]]/[[National Party of Australia|Nationals]] <small>(until January 2022)</small> | relations = | occupation = Veterinarian | alma_mater = [[University of Queensland]] }} '''Samantha Jane McMahon'''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aec.gov.au/election/files/data/qc/24310_NT_S_33001_MCM.pdf|title=Qualification checklist|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref> (born 11 December 1967) is a former Australian politician who was a [[Australian Senate|Senator]] for the [[Northern Territory]] between the [[2019 Australian federal election|2019 federal election]] and the [[2022 Australian federal election|2022 federal election]]. McMahon is a member of the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)|Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP), having joined the party in April 2022, several months after resigning from the [[Country Liberal Party]] (CLP). While she was a CLP member, she sat in the Nationals party room in federal parliament. She was a veterinarian in [[Katherine, Northern Territory|Katherine]] before entering politics.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-13/nt-senator-sam-mcmahon-blasts-vegan-activists-at-farm-hearing/11409250| title = NT senator and former vet Sam McMahon unloads on activists at farm hearing| date= August 14, 2019 | work = ABC Australia}}</ref>
==Early life== McMahon was born in [[Sydney]] on 11 December 1967.<ref name=aph>{{cite news|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=282728|title=Senator Sam McMahon|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref> She grew up on a farm in [[Nanango]], [[Queensland]]. She completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the [[University of Queensland]].<ref name=bio>{{cite news|url=https://www.liberal.org.au/member/sam-mcmahon|title=Sam McMahon|publisher=Liberal Party of Australia|access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref>
==Career== McMahon accepted a position in the Northern Territory after her graduation. She has owned and operated veterinary practices in [[Katherine, Northern Territory|Katherine]],<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/6594571/nt-senator-urges-students-to-apply-for-scholarships/| title = NT senator Sam McMahon urges students to apply for school scholarships| date= January 23, 2020 | work = Katherine Times}}</ref> [[Howard Springs, Northern Territory|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.<ref name=bio/> She became a Fellow of the [[Australian Institute of Company Directors]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.companydirectors.com.au/director-resource-centre/publications/company-director-magazine/2000-to-2009-back-editions/2003/september/congratulating-company-directors-course-graduates-aicd-review|title=list of FAICD graduates 2003|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref> She won the [[Centenary Medal]] for business leadership in 2001,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1127064|title=Centenary Medal Award 2001|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref> was awarded the [[Australian Veterinary Association]] Meritorious Service Award in 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ava.com.au/siteassets/about-us/annual-reports/ava_annual_report_2014.pdf|title=AVA Annual Report 2014|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref> and was awarded the NT Telstra small business award in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telstrabusinessawards.com/winners-and-finalists.2017|title=Telstra Small Business Awards 2017 Winners|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>
==Politics== In March 2019, McMahon won [[preselection]] to replace [[Nigel Scullion]] as the [[Country Liberal Party]]'s lead Senate candidate at the [[2019 Australian federal election|2019 federal election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-09/scullion-replacement-mcmahon-not-taking-senate-seat-for-granted/10886882|title=Nigel Scullion's replacement Sam McMahon 'not taking Senate seat for granted'|publisher=ABC News|date=9 March 2019|access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref> She was elected to a term beginning on 18 May 2019,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2019/results/senate|title=Senate Results|publisher=ABC News|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref> and chose to sit with the [[National Party of Australia|National Party]] in federal parliament, following her predecessor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/nationals-women-mps-defy-blokey-party-image/news-story/a60ecbecdde5d5f0d673a80eb4b710c4|title=Nationals women MPs defy 'blokey' party image|date=24 May 2019|access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref> In May 2021 she was appointed chair of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories.<ref name=aph/>
In June 2021, McMahon was defeated for CLP preselection at the [[2022 Australian federal election|2022 federal election]] by [[Jacinta Nampijinpa Price|Jacinta Price]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-26/jacinta-price-wins-clp-preselection-battle/100245740|title=Jacinta Price wins CLP preselection battle against sitting senator Sam McMahon|first=Felicity|last=James|date=26 June 2021|access-date=26 June 2021|publisher=ABC News}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-24/nt-senator-sam-mcmahon-denies-being-drunk-in-senate/100240452|title=NT Senator Sam McMahon's office says she was 'unwell' in Senate, not intoxicated|first=Jano|last=Gibson|date=24 June 2021|access-date=26 June 2021|publisher=ABC News}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/nationals-senator-accused-of-throwing-punches-at-party-director/video/818e0efaef32bccc8f9c9336a0adcae0|title=Nationals senator accused of throwing punches at party director|date=5 December 2021|access-date=6 December 2021|publisher=Sky News}}</ref>
In January 2022, McMahon resigned from the Country Liberal Party and moved to the crossbench to sit as an independent.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-28/nt-clp-senator-sam-mcmahon-resigns/100789798|title=Coalition senator Sam McMahon resigns from CLP, set to sit on crossbench|date=28 January 2022|access-date=29 January 2022|publisher=ABC News}}</ref> She later explained in March 2022 that she resigned due to alleged abuse by former staffer Jason Riley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-30/nt-sam-mcmahon-valedictory-speech-abuse-allegations/100952406|title=NT senator Sam McMahon uses parliamentary privilege to accuse former staffer of 'abuse'|publisher=ABC News|date=30 March 2022|access-date=12 April 2022}}</ref> On 8 April 2022, McMahon announced she had joined the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Australia)|Liberal Democrats]], and would run on the party's Northern Territory Senate ticket at the [[2022 Australian federal election|May federal election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.northernbeachesreview.com.au/story/7692406/nt-senator-mcmahon-joins-lib-democrats/?cs=9676|title=NT senator McMahon joins Lib Democrats|work=Northern Beaches Review|author=Aaron Bunch|date=8 April 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-04-08 |title=NT politician Sam McMahon joins ex-Queensland premier's party to run for re-election |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-08/sam-mcmahon-announces-federal-senate-election-bid-nt/100975390 |access-date=2022-04-08}}</ref> The Liberal Democrats won approximately 9% of the vote in the Northern Territory Senate race, not enough for McMahon to retain her seat in the chamber.
===Positions=== In January 2020, during the [[2019–20 Australian bushfire season]], McMahon tweeted that the [[Australian Greens]]' "ridiculous agenda" of opposing logging had "{{sic|le|ad}} to these horrible fires". A [[Guardian Australia]] article published in the same month identified her as one of the "[[Climate change denialism|climate doubters]]" within the Coalition.<ref>{{cite news |title='There is no link': the climate doubters within Scott Morrison's government |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/16/there-is-no-link-the-climate-doubters-within-scott-morrisons-government |access-date=16 January 2020 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/senator-sam-mcmahon-makes-nuclear-pitch-to-build-powerhouse-in-the-north/news-story/60883b18eeec043fa7860cc5bac883e7|title=Senator Sam McMahon makes nuclear pitch to build powerhouse in the north|date=3 March 2020|first=Amos|last=Aikman}}</ref>
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 [[Euthanasia in Australia|assisted suicide]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-04/senator-sam-mcmahon-on-nt-assisted-dying-bill/100344562|title=CLP senator Sam McMahon drafts bill to allow NT to vote on voluntary euthanasia|publisher=ABC News|date=4 August 2021|access-date=4 August 2021|first=Lauren|last=Roberts}}</ref>
In November 2021, McMahon was one of five Coalition senators who voted against the government in support of [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation|One Nation]]'s COVID-19 Vaccination Status (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2021B00156|title = COVID-19 Vaccination Status (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/scott-morrison-faces-senate-revolt-over-pauline-hanson-bill/news-story/519fbb22fc22f7f620142007d0386ae3 |title= Scott Morrison faces Senate revolt over Pauline Hanson bill |website=news.com.au |date=22 November 2021 |access-date=22 November 2021}}</ref>
==Personal life== McMahon lives on a farm outside Katherine and is an avid water skier and horse rider.<ref name=bio/> In September 2019, McMahon announced that she had separated from her husband, Wayne Nayda.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=news.com.au|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/text-messages-allege-senator-was-left-bloodied-and-distressed-after-2am-altercation/news-story/69d4078ccc262fb3aa640bf9b0333377|title=Text messages allege Senator was left bloodied and distressed after 2am altercation|first=Samantha|last=Maiden|date=17 June 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McMahon, Sam}} [[Category:1967 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Members of the Australian Senate for the Northern Territory]] [[Category:Members of the Australian Senate]] [[Category:Country Liberal Party members of the Parliament of Australia]] [[Category:Independent members of the Parliament of Australia]] [[Category:Australian veterinarians]] [[Category:Women veterinarians]] [[Category:Women members of the Australian Senate]] [[Category:University of Queensland alumni]] [[Category:National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia]] [[Category:Liberal Democratic Party members of the Parliament of Australia]] [[Category:People from Nanango]]