Peta Jan Murphy was an Australian politician. She was a member of the House of Representatives from 2019 until she died in 2023, representing the Victorian seat of Dunkley for the Australian Labor Party.
Who was Peta Murphy? Labor MP Dies Aged 50 Following Breast Cancer Battle
Federal Labor MP Peta Murphy has died at the age of 50 after a long battle with cancer. Murphy, the Member for Dunkley, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 at just 37 years of age. A tearful Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced her death in a press conference in Canberra a short time ago.
Murphy underwent a double mastectomy but her cancer returned in 2019, just days before she was sworn in as an MP. The prime minister referred to Murphy’s maiden speech to parliament, which she gave shortly after finding out her cancer was metastatic. “Peta received the news her cancer had returned two weeks before being sworn in as an MP,” he said.
“In her remarkable first speech in the parliament, she said: ‘I am neither unique nor alone in the fight I am about to take on’. “In so many wonderful ways, Peta was unique.
“But as someone who inspired such affection and respect in the hearts of so many, she was never alone.”