Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is with a heavy heart that I rise to pay tribute to the late Dr Katie Allen, the former member for Higgins. Her life was defined by service, compassion, integrity and a gritty determination. Katie was a warrior for the people she represented and for the causes that she cared about so deeply. Katie was a very good friend and an inspiration. She made the world a better place. It is difficult to comprehend that Katie is gone. At age 59, it is way too soon. She had so much more to do and so much more life and love to give to her adored husband, Malcolm, and their four beautiful children, Monty, Jemima, Arabella and Archie.

As we've heard in these wonderful contributions, Katie came to this place after an incredible career as a medical specialist, paediatrician, medical researcher and professor. She was someone who had spent her professional life caring for others. That instinct never left her. It certainly shaped the way she approached her work in this parliament and the way she represented her community. I'm sorry to be so sad.

In the parliament Katie was thoughtful, conscientious and deeply committed to public service. She brought a calm, determined, evidence based voice to debates on health, women's wellbeing and preventive care and, of course, to the pandemic and to the wonderful people she represented, the people of Higgins. She was a fighter. She never gave up. She had an incredible fight to win preselection for the seat of Higgins. She fought so hard for the three years that she was here in parliament. As we now know, under the most terrible circumstances, she fought for preselection for Chisholm and ran the most wonderful campaign. The last time I saw Katie was here in parliament late last year, when she led a delegation of Liberal women, some aspiring to be members of parliament. She had a genuine commitment to the advancement of women. She was struggling and she was frail, but that gritty determination shone. She was determined to continue to make a difference.

I wanted to actually table Greg Hunt's eulogy at the memorial service. I wasn't able to attend the memorial service because I was overseas on leave, but I attended Katie's family funeral, which was a very moving occasion. I just wanted to draw briefly on the contribution that Greg outlined in his eulogy. I don't think any of us understood how highly credentialed she was. When you look at her achievements, her qualifications and the contributions that she made as a medical researcher as a specialist paediatrician it is quite extraordinary. In the three short years that she was here in this place she played a critical role in Australia's successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was the only medical practitioner in the Liberal Party, and she played a very significant role in shaping and influencing Australia's successful COVID response. I seek leave to table a magnificent tribute to Katie from Greg Hunt.

Leave granted.

I have to say that the second last time I saw Katie was when Jane Hume and I visited her at her home. It was just after the election. I have to say that it was very cathartic. We had a wonderful time. Katie was on the cups of tea, and Jane and I were on more than one vodka each! We were suffering the consequences of a lost election and then our respective demises from shadow cabinet, and I think it was more therapeutic for Jane and me. We told all sorts of secrets and shared some of the gritty details that had happened with the ins and outs of the election loss and then what happened following the election loss in this place. We actually had a really wonderful time. Malcolm then arrived. It was just so joyful. We kept on saying, 'Sorry, we're talking more about us than we are about you, Katie,' and she said: 'I'm loving it. I'm so loving the fact that I'm sharing this with you.' It was a truly wonderful visit. But, at the same time, she also spoke directly and with such bravery about what she was facing, with such incredible courage.

It's just so shocking to lose such a magnificent woman at such a young age. It's just so shocking. I just want to express my deepest condolences to Malcolm, her beloved husband; to her beautiful children, Monty, Jemima, Arabella and Archie; to Katie's extended family; and to her close friends. Katie's passing is a profound loss to this parliament—she was so determined to come back here—to her community and to our country. Vale, Katie Allen.