Allegra Spender (Wentworth, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

It is a tragic day for all of us, but none more than for Peta's family. So I'd like to start by particularly acknowledging her husband, Rod; parents, Bob and Jan; sisters, Jodi and Penni; nieces; nephew; and friends who loved her. My heart goes out to them today. I hope they can find some comfort and solace in the many wonderful stories they're hearing in the debate on today's motion. I also want to particularly acknowledge the pain of my parliamentary colleagues, her broader ALP family, her staff and her constituents.

It is a loss to all them. It has been an education and a privilege to listen today to the words in the House commemorating the life of Peta Murphy, the member for Dunkley. One of my favourite bits of being an MP is bringing together primary school students from some of the different schools in Wentworth and discussing leadership with them. I always ask them what are the qualities they think are important in a leader, and I'm always impressed with the results. There is a lot of wisdom in years 5 and 6. Consistently, they talk about five key qualities: determination, kindness, fairness, humility and courage. The tributes today have highlighted how Peta Murphy had all of those qualities. The primary students of Wentworth would recognise her as one of their own, one of the good ones.

Many in this House have acknowledged what she achieved as a staffer, a lawyer, a local member and a parliamentarian. I particularly want to pay tribute to her in two areas from her work in this place: her advocacy for women's health and on gambling reform. As has been quoted in many speeches today, Peta said in her first speech that she was 'neither unique nor alone' in her experience of cancer. But it is how she stepped above the pain of her own personal experience, how she used it as a fuel for the fire to make a difference to people like her across the country, that has inspired so many of us.

Her work as the chair of the social policy committee and the author of the report You win some, you lose more was inspiring, equally. She brought broad recommendations to truly address the social harm inflicted on so many in this country by gambling. She took on vested interests, worked with some of our most vulnerable community members and, with curiosity, open-mindedness and a deep sense of fairness, brought to parliament inspiring recommendations. I think it must be the legacy of this parliament and a responsibility of all of us to take up the mantle, to take up the challenge that she laid down to us when she was sick, and implement those recommendations this term.

She had all those wonderful qualities the Wentworth kids like—determination, kindness, fairness, humility, and courage. But you shouldn't get the impression she was a killjoy. As so many have highlighted today, she was also fun, mischievous, and hilarious. In my family, one of the greatest insults you can make is accusing another one of the family of taking themselves too seriously. No-one could accuse Peta of that. In a memorable moment for me, I expressed my concern to her after hearing her cancer diagnosis. She looked at me quizzically with raised eyebrows like, 'What's the big deal?' and proceeded to change the subject. She was more interested in making a difference than reflecting on her own challenges.

I didn't know her well, but I have been inspired by her actions, her words and her example; by her desire to rise above the general grubbiness of politics so often, to play the ball not the person; and by the words of her maiden speech:

This parliament is the cauldron of Australia's national conversation, and politicians are not just participants in it; we are its custodians, and we must do better.

We must do better.

Even in her death, I think she is strengthening our democracy and our parliament. There is real grief in this place today, across the parliament, not just in the Labor Party. In that grief, I think we have done three things. We have reflected on character—on her character in particular and what we can learn from her example. We have reflected on her achievements, what it means to serve here, and what we must passionately seek to change, as she passionately sought to change things. We have listened to each other, across the parliament, and I think we've been surprised by the stories, shared experiences and common feeling. I believe we have come close to each other in our humanity and in our grief. I hope we take all these lessons forward and, in doing so, become better leaders and really honour her legacy. On that note, I would like to finish with a poem by John Donne, one which speaks to our shared humanity and the grief that we're all feeling:

No man is an island,

Entire of itself;

Every man is a piece of the continent,

A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less,

As well as if a promontory were:

As well as if a manor of thy friend's

Or of thine own were.

Any man's death diminishes me,

Because I am involved in mankind,

And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;

It tolls for thee.

Vale, Peta Murphy.

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