Peta Murphy

Murphy holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) degree from the Australian National University, a Master of Criminology degree from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Australian National University[3]

Prior to entering parliament, Murphy worked variously as a solicitor, barrister, Senior Public Defender at Victoria Legal Aid, Team Leader at the Victorian Law Reform Commission and as Chief of Staff to Labor Shadow Minister Brendan O'Connor MP.[2][4][5][6][7][8]

Murphy first stood for Dunkley at the 2016 election on the retirement of Bruce Billson, gaining a 4.1% swing but losing to Liberal candidate Chris Crewther.[9]

Murphy ran again in the 2019 election and with the benefit of an electoral redistribution that turned Dunkley from a marginal Liberal seat into a marginal Labor seat, along with a further 1.7% swing, was successful, becoming the first ALP member for Dunkley since 1996 and the first woman to ever represent the seat.[10][11]

Murphy is an advocate for breast screening and early diagnosis of cancer[12][13][14] and in her maiden speech spoke of her commitment to healthcare and creating employment opportunities in Melbourne's outer suburbs.[15]

Since her maiden speech, Murphy has worked with the Breast Cancer Network of Australia to promote better treatment and understanding of cancer.[16][17] Along with Lucy Wicks, former Liberal Member for Robertson, Murphy established the Parliamentary Friends of Women's Health in 2021 to provide a bi-partisan platform.[17][18]

Murphy was re-elected with an increased margin at the 2022 Australian federal election[19]

Murphy was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 at the age of 37. She received a new breast cancer diagnosis a few days after being sworn in to parliament in July 2019.[20][21]

Murphy has played softball in the National League[22][23] and represented NSW, ACT, Victoria and the Mornington Peninsula at the junior and senior level for squash. She is a past winner of the Australian 35+y Masters Squash, the US 35+y Masters Squash and the gold medal winner at the World Masters Games for 35+ years squash.[24][25][26][27] She is a previous President of Squash Victoria, Vice President of Squash Australia and member of the World Squash Federation Governance and Audit Committee.[28][29] Murphy has also served on the board of local Community Legal Centres, Peninsula Health and the Peninsula Waves.[30]

Murphy is the current Patron of the Frankston City Bowls Club and the Frankston Vietnam Veterans Association.[31]

She lives in Frankston.[15]