Jacinta Price to challenge Sam McMahon in NT Senate run

Jacinta Price has opened up about her priorities, if she were to beat Senator Sam McMahon for the Country Liberal Party’s NT Senate spot.

ALICE Springs Deputy Mayor, Jacinta Price has thrown her hat into the ring for the CLP’s federal Senate seat.

Ms Price will take on incumbent senator Sam McMahon for preselection, with the victor to be announced later in June.

Speaking on Tuesday, Ms Price said the tilt at the Senate ticket would provide her with “an opportunity to represent the whole of the Northern Territory”.

“I was born in Darwin, raised in Alice Springs,” she said, adding that she has had a good working relationship with her CLP colleague Senator McMahon despite the challenge.

“We supported one another in the last federal election.

“She’s been aware of the fact I’ve been considering nominating and she’s been on the record as encouraging others to throw their hat in the ring.”

Alice Springs deputy mayor Jacinta Price. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Ms Price said her priorities in office would be working to crack down on domestic and family violence, and solving worker shortages being experienced due to a lack of international travellers.

“I certainly would not take it for granted, I know there are a lot of passionate individuals who have nominated,” Ms Price said.

“Right now in the current climate and given there is a shortage of workers, these businesses need to know we can have an effective quarantine program in place.”

Ms Price said she was also excited over the prospect of more representation for Aboriginal Australians in parliament.

The electorate has been held by Nationals senator Sam McMahon since the 2019 federal election.

The looming preselection contest is on June 26.

Ms Price said the CLP was a broad party and challenging incumbents for preselection was part of the democratic process.

She was elected as Alice Springs deputy mayor in 2020 and will remain in the role until the next local government election, which is scheduled for August, unless she resigns prior to the cut-off date.

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