Ed Husic (Chifley, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Science) Share this | Hansard source

It won't come as a surprise to anyone in this place that people differ hugely on the value and purpose of politicians in this country, for a whole host of reasons. We anticipate, expect and understand that politicians will be viewed not in the brightest but probably in the dimmest of ways for a whole host of reasons—sometimes self-inflicted. But if there is one thing that I do absolutely believe in, it's that there is an element of the Australian public who want to see good and who believe that people will be elected to this place driven by purpose, and that those people want to fulfil that on behalf of the Australian people they are very grateful to have the opportunity to represent. If they ever need an example of that, it is Peta Murphy.

Peta Murphy demonstrated in spades what she fundamentally believed in the fibre of her being: she was going to come here to this place, the House of Representatives, to do not only the things that were right for her community but also the things that were right for her country. Her first speech—the first words that she uttered in this place—reflected this philosophy and this deep belief. There are a range of different things in the first speech that she gave to this place which I reflected on and that my colleagues on both sides of the chamber have reflected on, but she did say:

Recently I was asked to imagine what, at the end of my parliamentary career, I would like to be able to look back on and say I was proud to have been a part of—what I would like to have achieved.

It's not often that those sentiments are expressed in the very first speech in this place, but it was clear this was a person who was driven by making a mark and who wanted to ensure that the time they had here was used well, properly and with impact. She went on to say:

But, above all else, I would like to be able to say that I left Australian politics—Australian democracy—in better shape than when I joined it …

Bearing that in mind that, in different parts of the world, it was a challenge to the nature and the look of democracy, I believe that Peta took very seriously her individual role and the contribution she could make to improve the quality of democracy. As she put it:

There is too often a machismo about politics which mistakes aggressiveness for advocacy, which demands certainty and rejects reflection as weakness, and which is quick to judge and slow to forgive.

In those words, there is a lot that speaks the mentality and the approach that she sought to apply in this role. I saw it firsthand when I would visit her community in the way that she would engage with people that she clearly felt strongly and passionately about. For all people—one and all—she wanted to make their lives better. No matter what people's politics were, she took seriously her job in making sure she gave voice to their aspirations.

To be frank with you, the biggest thing I respected about Peta is the fact that she took that very seriously. She didn't care about politics—though I understand from time to time she was quite willing to go toe-to-toe because she saw this place as one where ideas were tested—but she did want to do the right thing at all points in time. It was something I respected very deeply in her. I respected the fact that she was here during some of the toughest battles for her personally, still speaking up for the battles of people were facing in her community. She did that with good grace, and that is not a phrase that necessarily gets attached to people in this place, but it certainly did to Peta Murphy. She took on those personal battles that she had and still fronted.

As others have observed, most notably in the contribution before me by the member for Gilmore, it speaks to something that is very hard for us as people—putting aside our politics—to be able to comprehend the concept of death and the fact that someone that you loved, someone that you worked with, someone that you're friends with is suddenly gone.

It was hard for us to know that Peta was battling in that way, but it was even harder, having spent time with her, with the vitality that she exuded last week, when all of a sudden that just stopped. For so many of us that grapple with the permanence of death, that was particularly hard. I imagine it was hard for her family, and we absolutely grieve for Rod and all the others in her family. But, for us who had developed that deep fondness for her of which so many have spoken about in their contributions, this was one of the heavier stones to wear around the neck in terms of learning of her passing and the way that she went in a battle that has taken too many others as well that we love so dearly, in terms of the fight against breast cancer.

She connected with the Breast Cancer Network in 2011, when she was first diagnosed, and, as she remarked in her inaugural speech, she deliberately chose to talk about her metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, stating she was 'neither unique nor alone' in this disease, 'But I am someone who has a platform that can be used to benefit others and I intend to use it,' again reflecting the value of the person—that she would make a contribution in a way that would make it easier for the ones that followed. She deliberately and consciously decided she'd spend time in this place advocating for people that were suffering like her but make it easier for them and demonstrate that quality of tirelessness and being inspiring.

She was a strong supporter, as I said, of the Breast Cancer Network of Australia. In fact, as has been highlighted many times today, Peta was here just last week intending to support their work, launching a report calling for those to be counted on our registries in order to improve outcomes. And I want to call out the work of BCNA, who provide support to those diagnosed and to their supporters and friends and family, as well as the opportunity to connect with others going through a similar situation. I want to say thank you to them, particularly—and led by—Kirsten Pilatti, known by everyone as KP, for the work they do. It is completely invaluable, it is highly valued and it changes lives.

It's just hard, really. This place does not really give much room for emotion in the sense of kindness and in the sense of thinking of others. As Peta said, you think of others and you do that in a way that is not considered weakness. But it is hard to think of her going. Sure, there are some things we're happy to forget, not least of which is her fondness for this game called squash that many people have reflected on today! But there is a lot to remember and there is a lot to be inspired by and there is a lot for us to continue a legacy, and that legacy can be reflected in what we bring to this place, the way we conduct ourselves in this House and the way we champion those that we care about in the communities we are honoured to represent.

I wish Peta's family all the best. My condolences to them deeply, and particularly to Rod. But I also just want to remember a great Australian, a terrific human being, and I count my blessings that I have had the opportunity to know Peta Murphy.

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