Former federal Liberal MP Katie Allen has died aged 59 after developing a rare form of cancer, her family has announced.

Dr Allen served as member for the now-abolished seat of Higgins in Victoria from 2019 to 2022.

Earlier this year, the former Liberal MP revealed she had a rare form of cancer known as cholangiocarcinoma.

Katie Allen cancer diagnosis

Dr Allen, who served as the member for Higgins until 2022, says she knows there are difficult days ahead, but is facing this with “clarity and determination”.

In a post to social media, her family said she spent her life caring for others as a mother, doctor, professor, MP and friend.

The post said she was deeply loved and passed in peace surrounded by family after living a full, beautiful life, all the way to the end.

Dr Allen announced her diagnosis just days after contesting the seat of Chisholm, incorporating part of her former seat of Higgins, in May’s federal election.

She challenged Labor MP Carina Garland for Chisholm but was unsuccessful.

Dr Katie Allen has been remembered as someone who was always helping others. (ABC News)

Crossing the floor

She was one of five MPs to cross the floor and side with Labor on amendments to the religious discrimination bill in 2022.

The bill sought to repeal a section of the Sex Discrimination Act that allowed religious schools to discriminate against students and staff on the grounds of both sexuality and gender identity.

Dr Allen voted with Labor in support of crossbench amendments to extend stronger anti-discrimination protections to transgender students and staff.

“I feel like I’ve stood up for what I believe in,” the then Liberal MP said during a Q+A episode following the move.

Katie Allen on Q+A

Rebel Liberal MP Katie Allen tells Q+A she is happy that she “stood up” for her beliefs over protections for transgender school students.

In her first speech to parliament in 2019, Dr Allen spoke about the strength of her family through difficult times and outlined her hopes for improving mental health services.

After developing a peanut allergy as an adult, Dr Allen began to focus on allergy research and advocacy, which she also took into her role in parliament.

She was a member of a 2020 parliamentary committee looking into allergies and pushed for a change to food labelling to give people with allergies more clarity.

Katie Allen was a passionate advocate for people with allergies. (ABC News: Nick Haggarty)

Tributes flow for a passionate advocate

Opposition leader Sussan Ley said she was deeply saddened to learn of Dr Allen’s death, describing her as a “trailblazer in every sense”.

“She did things differently and she did them her way,” Ms Ley said in a statement.

“You only had to be in a room with her to feel her passion.

“Passion for women, for medicine, for education, for the Liberal Party, and above all for people who needed a helping hand.”

Ms Ley said Dr Allen was a person of “exceptional intellect, courage and warmth”.

People have been posting tributes to social media, including Victorian Liberal MP Brad Rowswell, who posted on X about Dr Allen’s “incredible legacy” and the “lasting impact” she leaves behind.

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The softly-spoken man stood before the member for Higgins with a dilemma, and a question. There was no easy answer.

“Katie was always crafting a pathway for others; always helping others, even when it must have been so physically challenging to do so,” he said.

“Our state and our nation is better for Katie’s contribution and service.”

Victorian Liberal senator Jane Hume recalled meeting the accomplished paediatrician 12 years ago when she was the “shining star” of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne.

“Katie introduced herself to me at a hospital function; a paediatrician, professor, scientist and allergist, with four children,” she said in a post on Instagram.

“She should have been intimidating and formidable.

“But Katie was kind, friendly, and full of a contagious enthusiasm to improve the lives of others.

“I couldn’t believe it when — with all of that going for her — she told me she was interested in politics.”

Former Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin paid tribute on Instagram.

“The changes she made, the people she supported and the beliefs she lived, for many gave them the opportunity they may never have had,” he said.

In her tribute, Victorian MP Bridget Vallence said Dr Allen had been her son’s paediatric allergist at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

“Katie was a truly exceptional individual,” she said on social media.