An outgoing Northern Territory Senator has shocked Aussies after comparing the Top End's Covid-19 vaccine mandate to Nazi Germany.
Many opponents of mandatory vaccinations have linked it to other atrocities in the past and decry that it infringes on a person's rights.
The Top End has introduced some of the strictest rules in the country in regards to getting the jab.
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NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner revealed this week that any job that requires face-to-face interaction with the public will have to have received their first dose of the Covid-19 jab by November 13.
They will also have to be fully vaccinated by Christmas.
If a staff member doesn't get the jab then they will have to be fired or be moved to a role that doesn't require them to have contact with customers. If they don't comply with the measure they can expect a $5,000 fine.
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CLP Senator Sam McMahon isn't happy one bit with the system and likened it to something out of the Third Reich.
"From the announcement you could be forgiven for thinking we're living in Nazi Germany, not the Northern Territory," she said.
"This is a perfect example of look-away politics - create a diversion to deflect attention from his government's hopelessly flawed vaccine rollout."
She believes the mandate is way too heavy handed and it will create a nightmare for businesses.
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"Businesses will be so busy checking whether people are vaccinated or not they will have little to no time to actually carry out their work," she said.
"Not only is [Chief Minister Gunner] demanding what people do with their own bodies, he is potentially sending them broke with the proposed $5,000 fines."
People have been shocked by the comments comparing the Territory to Nazi Germany and even her own party has distanced itself from Senator McMahon's comments.
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However, when asked whether she still stands by her comparison, she double downed.
Speaking to The NT News, the outgoing Senator said it's outrageous that the mandate has been allowed to go ahead.
"I've not linked this to the Holocaust," she explained. "All I said was that the totalitarian approach taken by Michael Gunner, people could well think that this is more like Nazi Germany than the Northern Territory.
"It's not disrespectful to anybody, it's nothing to do with the Holocaust.
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"This is just a very totalitarian approach to take to be mandating that citizens have to undergo a medical procedure in order to be employed."
She added that her comments aren't offensive because she has 'a lot of Jewish friends'.
Featured Image Credit: Sam McMahon/FacebookTopics: Australia