Former Australian MP Katie Allen dies aged 59
Former federal Liberal MP in Australia Katie Allen has died aged 59 after developing a rare form of cancer, her family has announced, News.Az reports, citing Australian media .
Dr Allen served as member for the now-abolished seat of Higgins in Victoria from 2019 to 2022.
Earlier this year, the former Liberal MP revealed she had a rare form of cancer known as cholangiocarcinoma.
In a post to social media, her family said she spent her life caring for others as a mother, doctor, professor, MP and friend.
The post said she was deeply loved and passed in peace surrounded by family after living a full, beautiful life, all the way to the end.
Dr Allen announced her diagnosis just days after contesting the seat of Chisholm, incorporating part of her former seat of Higgins, in May's federal election.
She challenged Labor MP Carina Garland for Chisholm but was unsuccessful.
She was one of five MPs to cross the floor and side with Labor on amendments to the religious discrimination bill in 2022.
The bill sought to repeal a section of the Sex Discrimination Act that allowed religious schools to discriminate against students and staff on the grounds of both sexuality and gender identity.
Dr Allen voted with Labor in support of crossbench amendments to extend stronger anti-discrimination protections to transgender students and staff.
"I feel like I've stood up for what I believe in," the then Liberal MP said during a Q+A episode following the move.
In her first speech to parliament in 2019, Dr Allen spoke about the strength of her family through difficult times and outlined her hopes for improving mental health services.
After developing a peanut allergy as an adult, Dr Allen began to focus on allergy research and advocacy, which she also took into her role in parliament.
She was a member of a 2020 parliamentary committee looking into allergies and pushed for a change to food labelling to give people with allergies more clarity.
News.Az
