- Peta Murphy died at age of 50
- Member for Dunkley lost battle with breast cancer
Labor politician Peta Murphy has died at the age of 50 after a battle with breast cancer.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was overcome with emotion while announcing her death on Monday afternoon.
‘She was here last week in Canberra. She was clearly, very much not well,’ he said.
‘We will always carry her glow in our hearts.’
Ms Murphy had been the member for Dunkley, southeast of Melbourne.
Labor politician Peta Murphy has died after a battle with breast cancer at the age of 50
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was overcome with emotion while announcing her death on Monday afternoon
‘The whole way through her contribution, while going through what was very difficult treatment, she never once, never once talked about herself or asked for anything special,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘She would apologise if she missed a day of Parliament.
‘This Parliament was a better place for Peta Murphy being elected to the House of Representatives. This country was a better nation for her contribution.
‘May Peta Murphy rest in peace.’
Peta Murphy (left) is pictured with Anthony Albanese at the Australian Open this year
Ms Murphy is seen sitting in Parliament House last Tuesday
Ms Murphy was just 37 when she underwent a double mastectomy in 2011 after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer.
She had just been elected as the federal member for Dunkley when the cancer returned eight years later in 2019.
‘I have this unique platform of being in the Federal Parliament and, having metastatic breast cancer, I should use it to try to make life better for other people,’ Ms Murphy had earlier told the Today show.
‘Not everyone can keep working and do what I’m doing, but I want people to see that they’re not alone, which is why I’ve made the decision to be so open and public about it.’
Her family shared a heartfelt statement on Ms Murphy’s passing on Monday.
She’d been sitting in Parliament House for Question Time last Tuesday before being hospitalised a day later.
‘Peta left us this afternoon, having had her final days surrounded by family at home – just as she wanted it,’ her family said.
‘We loved her deeply and are so, so proud of her achievements, her character and her courage. She was indeed the strongest girl of all.
‘Still giving sassy advice until the very end – she died the way she lived – with dignity and strength and a touch of sarcasm to boot.’
She has been remembered as a ‘wonderful’ wife, daughter and sister.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk