Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says a by-election will be held in the seat of Dunkley after the tragic passing of federal Labor MP Peta Murphy at the age of 50 after a long battle with breast cancer.
Ms Murphy was first diagnosed in 2011 and was then rediagnosed in 2019.
She was the first female to win the seat after being elected in 2019 and the first Labor member since 1996.
At the 2022 federal election, she won the seat with 56.27 per cent of the two-party preferred result.
“Rather uncomfortably, I do have to raise that this means a by-election in a seat for the government of 3.3 per cent,” Mr Clennell said.
“That is the political implications of this which will be tough to win in outer suburban Melbourne, but I believe Labor had been steeling themselves for this tragedy to occur.
“It is obviously very tragic.”
