PETA Murphy’s first speech as federal member for Dunkley quoted her literary hero, Pippi Longstocking. Pippi was being warned by her friend Annika to refrain from taking on “the world’s strongest man” in competition.
“Man, yes,” said Pippi. “But I am the world’s strongest girl, remember that!”
The speech came just weeks after Murphy received a devastating cancer re-diagnosis. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, and again in 2019 around the time she was elected the first ever female member for Dunkley.
Murphy carried Pippi Longstocking’s attitude with her during her four years in Parliament. In spite of deteriorating health, she continued to work hard for the people in her electorate who needed a fighter on their side.
Last Monday, 4 December, Peta Murphy died. She was just 50 years old.
In the week since Murphy’s death, tributes to her have poured in across the country.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was the first to declare his admiration for Murphy on the day of her death. “While Peta’s was a life so very well lived it is hard to come to terms with the fact she is no longer with us – passing at just 50 years of age. Far too young with so much more to offer,” he said. “Peta Murphy was brave, she was courageous, and she was loved. Peta Murphy was the strongest of local members, the most inspiring of colleagues, and the very best kind of friend.
“As someone who inspired such affection and respect in the hearts of so many, she was never alone.”
Murphy was a very familiar face around Frankston, having first run for Dunkley in 2016 prior to her 2019 election. She met countless people during her time in politics – almost all who met her have spoken glowingly of her kindness and compassion in the days since her death. In her final moments her wish to be surrounded at home by those she held most dear was granted.
Murphy’s husband of 24 years, Rod Glover, released a joint statement alongside her parents Bob and Jan and her sisters Jodi and Penni on the day of her death. “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,” they said.
In her maiden speech Murphy spoke of her love for her family. She called her husband “compassionate” and “brilliant”. “He’s my most constructive critic, my most loyal supporter, and my greatest friend. I wouldn’t be standing here without him and I wouldn’t want to,” she said.
Murphy shared two dogs with her husband: Bert and Ernie.
OBITUARY
Peta Murphy, 1/11/1973 – 4/12/2023
Federal member for Dunkley
Murphy was born in Goulburn in 1973. Before her election she worked in law – Murphy was a Victorian Bar barrister from 2008 to 2016, including a two-year stint as a senior public defender at Victorian Legal Aid between 2012 to 2014. She unsuccessfully ran for Dunkley in 2016 before her 2019 election. She retained the seat for Labor in 2022 with an increased margin.
Murphy’s ill health did not repress her tenacity in Parliament. She fearlessly took on Australia’s gargantuan betting industry over its conduct in a senate inquiry this year. Its final report, which recommended that online gambling ads be banned in the next three years, was a crowning achievement of her tenure.
Even in the final days of her life, Murphy continued to work. She travelled to Canberra to launch a Breast Cancer Network Australia report and attend Parliament the week prior to her death. She was hospitalised the day after her final appearance in Parliament.
Murphy’s efforts in her electorate have been recognised by her long-time friend, Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke. He said “her recognition in the local community was remarkable. The community adored her. I think that’s because they could truly relate to her.”
“Peta was so genuine and authentic and so bloody down to earth. She told it like it was. No bullshit. No sugar coating. If she said she was going to help, she did. If someone mentioned to her that they were booked to have a double mastectomy, just like the procedure she herself had undergone many years before, she’d remember that conversation and she’d call them the night before their operation to offer her warmth, her reassurance, her support,” Edbrooke said. “She took on the causes, and wow did she take them on. Advocating to anyone and everyone – in support of Medicare, cheaper childcare, better care in aged care homes, more GP bulk billing and urgent care clinics, affordable homes, ending homelessness, better wages, addressing impacts from online gambling, gender equality, the Voice, and of course breast cancer support and awareness and most recently, a national register for people with metastatic cancer.”
The mayors of Frankston Council and the Mornington Peninsula Shire also praised her local impact. Frankston mayor Nathan Conroy said “going above and beyond to advocate for Frankston City was in Peta’s DNA. She was both fearless and tireless in delivering for her community.” Mornington Peninsula mayor Simon Brooks thanked her for helping provide $15 million in federal funding towards Emil Madsen Reserve, saying “as a result of Peta’s advocacy for our community, the lives of countless local residents who use the reserve will be enriched for many years to come.”
Outside of politics, Murphy was a sports fanatic. She was a force to be reckoned with on the squash court, and a frequent fixture at local sporting events. Frankston Dolphins president David Friend said, “Peta’s legacy will live on at the Frankston Football Club, as we continue to advocate for better awareness and resources for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.”
Murphy was a tireless advocate for breast cancer research and funding. Her maiden speech highlighted the importance of checking for cancer.
“Let’s be frank. Cancer sucks,” she said. “Ladies, check your breasts. Men, stop ignoring what your body’s telling you. Fellow members of this parliament, listen to the experts who warn that the promise of universal health care is under threat. Commit to the reform and funding that our health system needs and do whatever is required to ensure that Australia trains, retains, and invests in the healthcare professionals and researchers who make our system great.”
For more information on breast cancer screenings visit breastscreen.org.au