Tania Lawrence (Hasluck, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I had the good fortune to share a corridor with Peta Murphy and so felt immediately her warmth and welcome for me as a first-time MP. I often experienced her sharp wit and her smile. Peta showed me how authenticity matters. In her first speech in 2019 Peta remarked that she wanted to leave our democracy in better shape than she found it in. She has achieved this in many ways, from being a fierce and effective local representative for the constituents of Dunkley to supporting milestone legislation such as the National Anti-Corruption Commission legislation and in her other work, often out of the public eye, such as the way she gently drilled down into evidence given in committees, such as that in pursuit of an Australian framework to protect human rights and holding government accountable to those rights. She was a champion of human rights and leaves us all with the ongoing challenge to do better.

Peta was the same in her approach to all matters, large or small. I remember in her duty to this place she would arrive for the start of parliament each morning and then, in her duty to her ideals, she would wait in the members' lounge in silent protest to remind herself and anyone else that we are a secular and multifaith society and that one prayer can no longer represent all Australians. And on the larger stage she represented us all at the United Nations General Assembly. She was someone who knew it was important to be able to be proud of who we are in the world and what we stand for as a country, and I am proud that she stood for us in that forum.

Peta was my age—only 50. She carried on the dance with cancer for over 10 years, but it hardly ever seemed to slow her down. Just last week here at APH Peta hosted the launch of the report by Breast Cancer Network Australia, calling for those with metastatic breast cancer to be counted on our registries in order to improve outcomes, because with better data comes better research and better treatment. I and I know others will bend ourselves to ensuring that this occurs.

Interviewed on RN Breakfast about this last week, Peta reminded us that while we acknowledge the courage of those who live with metastatic cancer it is also important to acknowledge the difficulty of their journey and to talk with them about it, to connect. And at the same time as she said she was having trouble breathing, Peta still described herself as lucky, with an amazing job and an amazing family, friends and health supports. Patricia Karvelas described her then as smart, kind and funny. There are plenty of smart people around here, but Peta was particularly kind and funny, and I will always remember her for that.

In this chamber Peta's votes were counted. She counted in this place. She counted for her constituents of Dunkley. She counted for those travelling the same journey she has now finished. My heart goes to Peta's family, to her friends and to her team. Peta's was a rich life that we wish had been longer.

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