NT senator Sam McMahon resigns from Country Liberals, risking party’s status

Barnaby Joyce has sought to downplay Senator Sam McMahon's resignation from the Country Liberals, arguing she is still a member of the government and can sit in the Nationals party room as an independent.

McMahon confirmed her resignation in a statement on Monday, explaining she no longer has "the confidence of or in the CLP" - leaving the Northern Territory-based party without federal representation and at risk of losing party status.

McMahon fell out with the CLP over a tumultuous preselection battle she lost to the deputy mayor of Alice Springs, Jacinta Price, in mid-2021.

Since then, McMahon has been a thorn in the government's side, threatening to vote against its legislation unless it granted consideration of her bill to restore territories' rights to legislate on euthanasia and crossing the floor to vote in favour of a One Nation bill banning vaccine mandates.

McMahon said she had quit the CLP on Friday and informed the CLP president and the Nationals, but did not explain if she would continue to sit in the Nationals' party room.

"This has not been an easy decision and I have wrestled with it in recent times," she said in a statement. "It brings to an end a 30-year association.

"There are a number of unresolved issues beyond the preselection.