Sam McMahon


Samantha Jane McMahon 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.

Early life

McMahon grew up on a farm in Nanango, Queensland. She completed a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland.

Career

McMahon accepted a position in the Northern Territory after her graduation. She has owned and operated veterinary practices in Katherine, 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. She became a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors in 2003. She won the Centenary Medal for business leadership in 2001, was awarded the Australian Veterinary Association Meritorious Service Award in 2014, and was awarded the NT Telstra small business award in 2017.

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. She was elected to a term beginning on 18 May 2019, and will sit with the National Party in federal parliament, as did her predecessor Scullion.
In January 2020, during the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, McMahon tweeted that the Australian Greens' "ridiculous agenda" of opposing logging had "lead to these horrible fires". A Guardian Australia article published in the same month identified her as one of the "climate doubters" within the Coalition. 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.

Personal life

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