NT Senator Sam McMahon considering a move to the crossbench

A Senator who has lost her preselection is considering moving to the crossbench — complicating the ­government’s chances of passing legislation ahead of the ­federal election.

Scott Morrison faces the prospect of losing a senator to the crossbench ahead of the resumption of parliament next month, complicating the ­government’s chances of passing any legislation ahead of this year’s ­federal election.

Northern Territory Senator Sam McMahon, who last June lost her preselection to Alice Springs deputy mayor Jacinta Price, has been in talks about running for the Liberal Democrats at this year’s poll.

Senator Sam McMahon has lost preselection and may move to the crossbench. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford.

It is understood that Senator ­McMahon met with former Queensland premier Campbell Newman, who is the Liberal Democrats’s Senate candidate in that state, along with party president John Humphreys in Brisbane late last year with a view to “giving it a go”.

A senior government figure said ­despite efforts to keep Ms ­McMahon in the tent after her bitter preselection loss to Ms Price, there was a growing belief she would join the Liberal Democrats.

A move to the crossbench by Senator McMahon would complicate the government’s chances of passing any legislation in the months ahead of this year’s election.

Getting bills through the Senate is already complicated at the moment as government senators Gerard ­Rennick from Queensland and Alex Antic from South Australia have ­declared they won’t vote for any ­government bills until the Morrison government agrees to legislation to override state-sanctioned vaccine ­mandates.

Ms McMahon met with the Liberal Democrats’ Senate candidate for Queensland Campbell Newman. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Last year Senator ­McMahon joined the pair alongside Concetta Fierra­vanti-Wells and former minister Matt ­Canavan in crossing the floor to vote for a bill calling for an end to vaccine mandates.

A spokesman for Senator ­McMahon said she was uncontactable on ­Saturday.

But in August she said had been ­approached to join other parties, ­including the Liberal Democrats and Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party, to join them.

“I have no plans to do anything at this point in time but you never rule anything out,” Senator ­McMahon told Sky News at the time.

Originally published as NT Senator Sam McMahon considering a move to the crossbench