# Sam McMahon

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Australian politician

For another person, see [Sam McMahon (footballer)](/source/Sam_McMahon_(footballer)).

Sam McMahon Senator for the Northern Territory In office 18 May 2019 – 20 May 2022 Preceded by Nigel Scullion Succeeded by Jacinta Nampijinpa Price Personal details Born (1967-12-11) 11 December 1967 (age 58) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Party Liberal Democratic (since April 2022) Other political affiliations Independent (January–April 2022) Country Liberal/Nationals (until January 2022) Spouse Wayne Nayda Alma mater University of Queensland Occupation Veterinarian

**Samantha Jane McMahon**[1] (born 11 December 1967) is a former Australian politician who was a [Senator](/source/Australian_Senate) for the [Northern Territory](/source/Northern_Territory) between the [2019 federal election](/source/2019_Australian_federal_election) and the [2022 federal election](/source/2022_Australian_federal_election). McMahon is a member of the [Liberal Democratic Party](/source/Liberal_Democratic_Party_(Australia)) (LDP), having joined the party in April 2022, several months after resigning from the [Country Liberal Party](/source/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](/source/Katherine%2C_Northern_Territory) before entering politics.[2]

## Early life

McMahon was born in [Sydney](/source/Sydney) on 11 December 1967.[3] She grew up on a farm in [Nanango](/source/Nanango), [Queensland](/source/Queensland). She completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the [University of Queensland](/source/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](/source/Katherine%2C_Northern_Territory),[5] [Howard Springs](/source/Howard_Springs%2C_Northern_Territory), [Nhulunbuy](/source/Nhulunbuy), [Tennant Creek](/source/Tennant_Creek), and [Alice Springs](/source/Alice_Springs). She was a national director of the [Australian Veterinary Association](/source/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](/source/Australian_Institute_of_Company_Directors) in 2003.[6] She won the [Centenary Medal](/source/Centenary_Medal) for business leadership in 2001,[7] was awarded the [Australian Veterinary Association](/source/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](/source/Preselection) to replace [Nigel Scullion](/source/Nigel_Scullion) as the [Country Liberal Party](/source/Country_Liberal_Party)'s lead Senate candidate at the [2019 federal election](/source/2019_Australian_federal_election).[10] She was elected to a term beginning on 18 May 2019,[11] and chose to sit with the [National Party](/source/National_Party_of_Australia) in federal parliament, following her predecessor.[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 [2022 federal election](/source/2022_Australian_federal_election) by [Jacinta Price](/source/Jacinta_Nampijinpa_Price).[13] In the week leading up to the ballot, [Nine Publishing](/source/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]

In January 2022, McMahon resigned from the Country Liberal Party and moved to the crossbench to sit as an independent.[16] She later explained in March 2022 that she resigned due to alleged abuse by former staffer Jason Riley.[17] On 8 April 2022, McMahon announced she had joined the [Liberal Democrats](/source/Liberal_Democratic_Party_(Australia)), and would run on the party's Northern Territory Senate ticket at the [May federal election](/source/2022_Australian_federal_election).[18][19] 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](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_Australian_bushfire_season), McMahon tweeted that the [Australian Greens](/source/Australian_Greens)' "ridiculous agenda" of opposing logging had "lead [*[sic](/source/Sic)*] to these horrible fires". A [Guardian Australia](/source/Guardian_Australia) article published in the same month identified her as one of the "[climate doubters](/source/Climate_change_denialism)" within the Coalition.[20] 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.[21]

In August 2021, McMahon announced she had drafted a bill to expand the legislative powers of the [Northern Territory Legislative Assembly](/source/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](/source/Euthanasia_Laws_Act_1997)*, allowing the Legislative Assembly to legalise [assisted suicide](/source/Euthanasia_in_Australia).[22]

In November 2021, McMahon was one of five Coalition senators who voted against the government in support of [One Nation](/source/Pauline_Hanson's_One_Nation)'s COVID-19 Vaccination Status (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill 2021.[23][24]

## Personal life

McMahon lives on a farm outside 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.[25]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Qualification checklist"](https://www.aec.gov.au/election/files/data/qc/24310_NT_S_33001_MCM.pdf) (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["NT senator and former vet Sam McMahon unloads on activists at farm hearing"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-13/nt-senator-sam-mcmahon-blasts-vegan-activists-at-farm-hearing/11409250). *ABC Australia*. 14 August 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aph_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aph_3-1) ["Senator Sam McMahon"](https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=282728). Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bio_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bio_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bio_4-2) ["Sam McMahon"](https://www.liberal.org.au/member/sam-mcmahon). Liberal Party of Australia. Retrieved 30 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["NT senator Sam McMahon urges students to apply for school scholarships"](https://www.katherinetimes.com.au/story/6594571/nt-senator-urges-students-to-apply-for-scholarships/). *Katherine Times*. 23 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["list of FAICD graduates 2003"](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). Retrieved 31 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Centenary Medal Award 2001"](https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1127064). Retrieved 31 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["AVA Annual Report 2014"](https://www.ava.com.au/siteassets/about-us/annual-reports/ava_annual_report_2014.pdf) (PDF). Retrieved 31 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Telstra Small Business Awards 2017 Winners"](https://www.telstrabusinessawards.com/winners-and-finalists.2017). Retrieved 31 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Nigel Scullion's replacement Sam McMahon 'not taking Senate seat for granted'"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-09/scullion-replacement-mcmahon-not-taking-senate-seat-for-granted/10886882). ABC News. 9 March 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Senate Results"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2019/results/senate). ABC News. Retrieved 29 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Nationals women MPs defy 'blokey' party image"](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/nationals-women-mps-defy-blokey-party-image/news-story/a60ecbecdde5d5f0d673a80eb4b710c4). 24 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** James, Felicity (26 June 2021). ["Jacinta Price wins CLP preselection battle against sitting senator Sam McMahon"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-26/jacinta-price-wins-clp-preselection-battle/100245740). ABC News. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Gibson, Jano (24 June 2021). ["NT Senator Sam McMahon's office says she was 'unwell' in Senate, not intoxicated"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-24/nt-senator-sam-mcmahon-denies-being-drunk-in-senate/100240452). ABC News. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Nationals senator accused of throwing punches at party director"](https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/nationals-senator-accused-of-throwing-punches-at-party-director/video/818e0efaef32bccc8f9c9336a0adcae0). Sky News. 5 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Coalition senator Sam McMahon resigns from CLP, set to sit on crossbench"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-28/nt-clp-senator-sam-mcmahon-resigns/100789798). ABC News. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["NT senator Sam McMahon uses parliamentary privilege to accuse former staffer of 'abuse'"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-30/nt-sam-mcmahon-valedictory-speech-abuse-allegations/100952406). ABC News. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Aaron Bunch (8 April 2022). ["NT senator McMahon joins Lib Democrats"](https://www.northernbeachesreview.com.au/story/7692406/nt-senator-mcmahon-joins-lib-democrats/?cs=9676). *Northern Beaches Review*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["NT politician Sam McMahon joins ex-Queensland premier's party to run for re-election"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-08/sam-mcmahon-announces-federal-senate-election-bid-nt/100975390). *ABC News*. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["'There is no link': the climate doubters within Scott Morrison's government"](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jan/16/there-is-no-link-the-climate-doubters-within-scott-morrisons-government). *The Guardian*. Retrieved 16 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Aikman, Amos (3 March 2020). ["Senator Sam McMahon makes nuclear pitch to build powerhouse in the north"](https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/senator-sam-mcmahon-makes-nuclear-pitch-to-build-powerhouse-in-the-north/news-story/60883b18eeec043fa7860cc5bac883e7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Roberts, Lauren (4 August 2021). ["CLP senator Sam McMahon drafts bill to allow NT to vote on voluntary euthanasia"](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-04/senator-sam-mcmahon-on-nt-assisted-dying-bill/100344562). ABC News. Retrieved 4 August 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["COVID-19 Vaccination Status (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill 2021"](https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2021B00156).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Scott Morrison faces Senate revolt over Pauline Hanson bill"](https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/scott-morrison-faces-senate-revolt-over-pauline-hanson-bill/news-story/519fbb22fc22f7f620142007d0386ae3). *news.com.au*. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Maiden, Samantha (17 June 2020). ["Text messages allege Senator was left bloodied and distressed after 2am altercation"](https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/text-messages-allege-senator-was-left-bloodied-and-distressed-after-2am-altercation/news-story/69d4078ccc262fb3aa640bf9b0333377). news.com.au.

Authority control databases: People Australian Parliament

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sam McMahon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_McMahon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_McMahon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.