D-Day for McMahon’s political hopes with preselection for CLP Senate ticket to be decided today

The fate of Sam McMahon’s Senate career will be decided today as she looks to fight off a challenge from at least three other candidates, including Alice Springs deputy mayor Jacinta Price.

Senator Sam McMahon’s political future will be decided at CLP preselection today. Picture: Che Chorley

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THE fate of Sam McMahon’s Senate career will be decided today as she looks to fight off a challenge from at least three other candidates, including Alice Springs deputy mayor Jacinta Price.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has stuck to blaming border restrictions for cancelling a planned trip to the Northern Territory, where he was expected to support Senator McMahon’s bid for preselection.

It came after a public relations nightmare for the embattled senator, whose hopes for the CLP Senate ticket were dealt a blow after colleagues claimed she was drunk on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday night.

Senator McMahon has denied these claims, saying she was “feeling ill”.

The preselection for the top spot on the CLP’s Senate ticket will be decided today.

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Mr Joyce, freshly reinstalled as Nationals leader, said he would have had to quarantine if he made the weekend trip.

“If I go there the only thing I’m going to see in Darwin is a motel room,” he told ABC Radio Darwin’s Adam Steer. “In due course, when we can go up there and move freely around, that’s what I’ll do.”

Mr Joyce’s comments come after host of the ABC’s Insiders program, David Speers, said on radio yesterday morning he “was told that Barnaby Joyce is not coming to Darwin this weekend because they don’t believe Sam McMahon can win preselection now”.

Mr Joyce said Senator McMahon was “instrumental in the National Party”.

He said he didn't see her on the night where people have claimed she was intoxicated.

“We know that Sam was sick … if someone’s sick I’m not going to condemn them about it.

“There were other people in the building at the same time who were unwell.”

Mr Joyce said he still supported Senator McMahon.

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Originally published as D-Day for McMahon’s political hopes with preselection for CLP Senate ticket to be decided today