CLP chooses Price over McMahon in Senate preselection, plus Solomon and Lingiari candidates for next election

The CLP has called last drinks on the controversial Senate career of Sam McMahon, dumping her for Warlpiri woman and Alice Springs Deputy Mayor Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, and chosen its candidates for the seats of Solomon and Lingiari at preselection on Saturday.

Tina MacFarlane (Solomon), CLP president Jamie de Brenni, Jacinta Price (Senate) and Damien Ryan (Lingiari). Picture: Gary Shipway

• Sam McMahon gracious in defeat after losing CLP Senate preselection to challenger Jacinta Price
• CLP dumps Sam McMahon for Jacinta Price in Senate preselection battle
• D-Day for McMahon’s political hopes with CLP Senate preselection to be decided today

THE Country Liberal Party has called last drinks on the controversial Senate career of Sam McMahon, dumping her for Warlpiri woman and Alice Springs Deputy Mayor Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Ms Price, who will almost certainly sit with the Nationals, is the high-profile daughter of former CLP minister Bess Price and a fierce campaigner on issues faced by Aboriginal communities, in particular domestic violence.

She is a prominent activist taking conservative positions on issues facing Indigenous Australians, having opposed the enshrinement of the Indigenous Voice and criticising public interest in Indigenous deaths as overlooking those deaths perpetrated by other Indigenous people.

Ms Price launched defamation proceedings against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2019 in response to their coverage of her “Mind the Gap” tour; she consequently received a full public apology in April.

Senator McMahon has been drowning in a sea of controversy this week with claims, which she denies, that she was intoxicated and had to leave the Senate chamber, and with former staff members claiming an office booze culture.

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In putting her hand up for the Senate seat, 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 said. “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.

“I wish her well as she deals with her health issues.”

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

As expected, the CLP has preselected another high-profile Alice Springs councillor in its Mayor Damien Ryan.

He will contest the seat of Lingiari for the CLP against Labor’s Marion Scrymgour.

Tina MacFarlane returns to the federal election campaign trail for the CLP after winning the preselection battle to contest the seat of Solomon for the party.

Mrs MacFarlane, who previously ran for the CLP in the seat of Lingiari, returns to run against Labor’s sitting member Luke Gosling.

At the 2013 election, Mrs MacFarlane generated a 2.8 per cent swing against Labor’s incumbent member for Lingiari Warren Snowdon, who is retiring at the next federal election.