Former federal Liberal MP Dr Katie Allen has died at the age of 59, only months after publicly revealing she was battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Dr Allen represented the Melbourne seat of Higgins from 2019 until 2022, when she was defeated by Labor’s Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah following a redistribution that later led to the seat’s abolition. Her death was confirmed by her family in a statement posted on social media early Wednesday.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved Katie,” the statement read. “She spent her life caring for others as a mother, doctor, professor, MP and friend. She passed peacefully, surrounded by family.”
Earlier this year, Dr Allen disclosed that she had been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer affecting the bile ducts. Despite the diagnosis, she remained publicly engaged and continued advocating for issues close to her heart.
Before entering politics, Dr Allen built a distinguished medical career as a paediatric allergist and gastroenterologist at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, and held senior academic roles in medicine and research. Her professional background strongly shaped her parliamentary focus, particularly in health, medical research and child wellbeing.
Tributes flowed swiftly from across the political spectrum, with senior Liberal figures praising her integrity, compassion and courage. Former Victorian Liberal leader Brad Battin described her passing as “deeply unfair”, while acknowledging the lasting impact of her work on those she supported.
Dr Allen first entered politics in 2018, contesting the Victorian state seat of Prahran, before successfully winning Higgins at the 2019 federal election. In 2022, she attracted national attention after crossing the floor with several colleagues to vote against the Coalition’s religious discrimination bill, citing concerns about its impact.
She is survived by her husband and children.
