Peta Murphy

Peta Jan Murphy[1] (born 1 November 1973)[2] is an Australian politician who has been a member of the House of Representatives since the 2019 federal election. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and represents the Division of Dunkley in Victoria.

Peta Murphy MP
Murphy in 2019
Member of the Australian Parliament for Dunkley
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 May 2019
Preceded by	Chris Crewther
Personal details
Born	1 November 1973 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
Political party	Labor
Alma mater	Australian National University University of Melbourne
Profession	Barrister

Prior to entering parliament, Murphy was chief of staff to Labor MP Brendan O'Connor. At the 2019 election, she defeated incumbent Liberal MP Chris Crewther, winning on preferences despite losing the primary vote, to become the first ALP member for Dunkley since 1996. A redistribution had made Dunkley a notional Labor seat prior to the election.[3] Murphy also stood for Dunkley at the 2016 election.[4]

Murphy was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, aged 37. She received a new cancer diagnosis a few days after being sworn in to parliament in July 2019, which she announced in her maiden speech.[5][6]

References

1. "Qualification checklist" (PDF). Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
2. "Ms Peta Murphy MP". Senators and Members. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
3. "Bittersweet victory for new Labor MP Peta Murphy". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
4. "Election 2016: Labor 'tested' after revelations candidate Peta Murphy fought against anti-terror laws". ABC News. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
5. Lowrey, Tom (24 July 2019). "Labor MP Peta Murphy receives cancer diagnosis two weeks before first speech". ABC News. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
6. Harris, Rob (24 July 2019). "'Cancer sucks': MP delivers pointed maiden speech, two weeks after diagnosis". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 August 2019.