KEY POINTS:
- Labor MP Peta Murphy has died aged 50 after a battle with breast cancer.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says her Labor colleagues have been left "broken-hearted"'.
- She passed away at home with her husband by her side.
The Labor family is "broken-hearted" after the death of federal MP Peta Murphy, who passed away following a years-long battle with cancer, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.
An emotional Albanese told reporters on Monday that Murphy had passed away at her Melbourne home in the presence of her husband. She was 50 years old.
The prime minister said Murphy’s Labor colleagues would struggle to come to terms with her death "far too young, with so much more to offer".
"Every one of us in the Labor family is broken-hearted by the death of our beloved Peta Murphy," he said.
"At this saddest of times, we offer our deepest sympathies to her loving husband Rod - they were together for 24 years - and all her family.
"Peta Murphy was brave, she was courageous, and she was loved. Peta Murphy was the strongest of local members, the most inspiring of colleagues, and the very best kind of friend. To attend a community event with Peta was to bask in her glow ... This will be a difficult period of grieving, but we will always carry her glow in our hearts."
Albanese said Murphy, who represented the Victorian seat of Dunkley, understood the "greatest privilege of public office" and performed every duty "with her whole heart".
Anthony Albanese was tearful as he revealed Murphy's passing. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Albanese said she "never once talked about herself or asked for anything special", despite having to fulfil her duties while undergoing cancer treatment.
"She would apologise if she missed a day of parliament. This parliament was a better place for Peta Murphy being elected," he said.
"This country was a better nation for her contribution. May Peta Murphy rest in peace."
Albanese says the Labor family is "broken-hearted" by Murphy's passing. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Murphy dies after years of advocacy for cancer survivors
Murphy was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, at the age of 37.
She was a relentless advocate for cancer sufferers and co-founded the bipartisan parliamentary Friends of Women's Health group in 2021.
Her first speech to parliament in 2019 - which Albanese described as the best he had ever seen - was delivered just weeks after she was told the cancer had returned.
"As I now know, cancer is not just indiscriminate, it's sneaky," she said.
Peta Murphy cuddling a Labrador puppy trained by the Australian Border Force at Parliament House in Canberra in March. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Murphy first stood for Dunkley in 2016, though she could not wrest the seat off the Coalition despite a 4.1 per cent swing towards her.
But she became the seat's first Labor representative in over a decade three years later, and was re-elected in 2022 with a slight swing towards her.
She was a key member of a parliamentary inquiry into the impact of online gambling earlier this year, which recommended online gambling advertising be banned within three years.
The government is still to release its bill in response.
This is the 'saddest day' for Labor, says Wong
Coalition leader Peter Dutton said during her time in parliament, Murphy sought to "enlarge our national imagination and promote robust debates and ideas".
"For anyone who was on the opposing side of politics to Peta and sat on the opposite side of the chamber to her, it was impossible not to be impressed by the heartfelt and heroic way she spoke about causes dear to her: bettering the lives of women, children and families," Dutton said in a statement.
"Twice Peta battled breast cancer, which she described as 'indiscriminate' and 'sneaky'. But in her unrelenting advocacy for awareness-raising, treatment and funding, Peta unquestionably has helped many Australian women. It was one of her many fine contributions to public life."
Peter Dutton paid tribute to Murphy in a statement on Monday. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"We appreciate [they] will be feeling enormous grief and sorrow at this tragic news," he said.
"Peta Murphy conducted herself as an exceptional member of parliament, and particularly showed such strength, grace and determination during her battle with cancer.
"We pay tribute to her life, as I know this Chamber and all will do so appropriately in the coming days and weeks."
Her voice breaking, Foreign Minister Penny Wong described Monday as the "saddest day for the Labor Party".
"She was loved and respected by all of us, greatly admired by her community, and she represented with passionate determination even through all of her illness … Peta's strength was unmatched and she will be greatly missed by us all," she told the Senate.
