Thursday, 5 February 2026

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (10:05): On 23 December last year an exceptional woman left us. Professor Katie Allen contributed to our world beyond her almost 60 years of life. Having studied medicine both in Australia and at Cambridge University, Katie authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications, leading change for new paediatric allergy-prevention strategies and changing how allergy is diagnosed. Whether as a physician, scientist, eminent researcher, parliamentarian or community leader, fundamentally she cared. Katie served as member for Higgins from 2019 for one term. Service was always at the forefront of Katie’s approach to representing her constituents. During the last federal election campaign it was an honour for my daughter and me to work closely with Katie and Senator Anne Ruston, federal shadow health minister, to develop a funding proposal to continue the vital allied health colorectal and pelvic reconstruction service unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital to support children with bowel conditions. Sadly, Labor did not match it and the unit was shut down, but clearly Katie never stopped fighting for those in desperate need. It was an honour to join over a thousand people for Katie’s thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, where we heard extraordinary eulogies from her four amazing children and husband, along with the Honourable Greg Hunt, Professor Kathryn North AC representing the medical and research community and Canon Dr Toni Meath on behalf of Melbourne Girls Grammar, where Katie spent so much time. My thoughts go to Malcolm, Monty, Jemima, Arabella and Archie, Vale, Katie Allen.