Peta Murphy’s brave final year in parliament

Grappling with a new look after shaving her head during cancer treatment, the late Peta Murphy showed plenty of resolve in an interview at the beginning of her final year in parliament.

Peta Murphy, pictured at Parliament House in February. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“I intend to be around for quite a while yet.”

This was the resolve of Peta Murphy as she returned to work in Canberra at the beginning of the year, unashamedly walking into parliament with her head shaved after receiving her first three rounds of intravenous chemotherapy.

In an interview with The Australian in February, the Victorian MP said she had been trying to get used to images of herself and was not quite recognising the person she saw back in windows and mirrors.

But at the same time, she felt reaffirmed by those from all sides of politics and all walks of life who would stop her in the corridors of parliament and ask her how she was going and what they could do.

“That’s been pretty amazing,” she said.

Anthony Albanese announced on Monday afternoon that Ms Murphy had lost her battle with the disease, passing away at the age of 50.

“Right up to last week, she was asking questions in the House, raising awareness of issues she cared about and standing up for the community she was so proud to represent,” the Prime Minister said.

Peta Murphy, pictured in 2022. Picture: Tony Gough

Ms Murphy was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer following the 2019 election, just two days after getting sworn in.

But following years of oral chemo treatment, she was put on IV therapy in December 2022.

In her February interview, Ms Murphy said decided to shave her head before coming to parliament as her hair was coming out in patches.

“It’s probably the first time I think that I look like someone getting treatment,” she said.

“And I think because … my approach to everything is to just work as hard as I can and throw myself in, it’s not necessarily obvious the way I conduct myself from day to day that I’m getting treatment.”

Ms Murphy was put on an IV three out of four Fridays a month and said she hoped she would be on the treatment “for a very long time”.

“Metastatic breast cancer is treatable but incurable. It’s cancer that’s spread to other parts of your body and the treatment is to stop it spreading further, to hold it at bay and make sure your day-to-day living is as good as it can be,” she said.

Peta Murphy in the lower house in February. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“I’m very lucky because in the last even 10 years, or even five years, you know, treatment has gotten much better, great. People are living longer and healthier lives, with things like metastatic cancer than ever before.”

She said she approached cancer like having any other chronic disease, seeing it as something she just “had to deal with” and not letting it affect her work.

Almost to prove her point, Ms Murphy leapt up in the middle of the interview as the House of Representatives bell rung for a division, meaning she was required to vote on legislation.

She continued to conduct the interview as she hastily walked towards the chamber.

Ms Murphy said she dealt with the rigours of parliament “just by looking after myself”, brushing off her cancer battle by saying “we’re all exhausted”.

“I think I’m just probably a little bit more exhausted than normal, if that’s possible,” she said dryly.

Anthony Albanese with Peta Murphy in January. Picture: Getty Images

“All of us, particularly women … are used to pushing through when we’re exhausted.”

Ms Murphy said she decided not to wear a wig after losing her hair because she wanted to be open about her cancer diagnosis.

“I see the privileged position I’m in, in parliament, as an opportunity to be an advocate and raise the issue and say to other women in the same situation: ‘We do see you, we do understand what you’re going through and I’m going through it too’,” she said.

“So for me, shaving my hair and not wearing wigs or scarfs all the time just felt more natural.”

As she walked into the chamber she turned and yelled out over her shoulder: “I would like to let other women know, you’re OK”.