The 44-year-old wife of Attorney General Mark Dreyfus has tragically passed away after a lengthy battle with illness.
Deborah Dreyfus, nee Chemke, died Tuesday evening surrounded by her family.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Dreyfus shared the tragic news with him on Wednesday morning.
“People would be aware that Deborah has been suffering from illness for a long period of time and that has resulted in Mark being absent from Parliament for a period of time but continuing to fulfill his duties,” the Prime Minister said.
‘This (is) a very sad loss after a very long and difficult illness, during which Deborah showed enormous courage and fought for a considerable period.
The 44-year-old wife of Attorney General Mark Dreyfus has tragically passed away after a lengthy battle with illness
“I have encouraged him not to return to work until he is able to do so.
“This is a time when he must be able to grieve with his family and I ask that his privacy and the privacy of his family be respected. That is why I am making this public statement.”
Ms. Dreyfus was diagnosed with oral cancer in late 2005.
The couple first met on a beach in Sydney in 1978. In a 2013 interview, Mr Dreyfus revealed he immediately liked her.
“She was wearing a multi-colored crochet bikini and I had never seen anyone like her,” he said.
He was living in Melbourne at the time and Mr Dreyfus began making the hour-long night train journey to Sydney to spend time with her.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Dreyfus shared the tragic news on Wednesday morning
Reflecting on her cancer diagnosis in the same 2013 interview, Mrs. Dreyfus said she knew from the moment she met her husband that he belonged in the world of politics.
He “got the call” between bouts of cancer, at a time that was considered less than ideal.
She said: ‘It’s Mark’s dream to do this. I probably knew from day one that this is what he wanted to do. There’s not much to discuss here. He has to do it.
“If I die, at least he’ll have politics. If I don’t die, that’s great: he has his dream job and I’ll be there and support him and it’s a new adventure for both of us.’