Victorian Greens MP Tim Read Dies Aged 64 After Battle With Cancer

Victorian Greens MP and former general practitioner Tim Read has died at the age of 64 following a well-publicised battle with metastatic cancer, according to reporting by ABC Australia. Dr Read, who represented the inner-suburban Melbourne electorate of Brunswick, had announced his retirement from state parliament earlier in the year as his health declined.

Elected to represent Brunswick at the 2018 state election, Dr Read spent his final year in office campaigning against the Allan government's planned closure of VicHealth, which is recognized as the world's first health promotion foundation. Established in 1987 by then-Labor premier John Cain with bipartisan support, VicHealth was originally funded by taxes on cigarette sales to replace tobacco sponsorship in sports and the arts while promoting public health.

Political leaders from across the political spectrum paid tribute to Dr Read following news of his passing. Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell described him as a brilliant local representative, doctor, and scientist, noting that he was widely regarded as one of the most liked members of state parliament due to a combination of conviction, integrity, wit, and humility.

Before entering formal politics, Dr Read worked as a general practitioner and completed a PhD while practicing at a public HIV and sexual health clinic. His medical research focused on HIV prevention and treatment alongside strategies for managing antibiotic-resistant sexually transmitted infections. His activism began decades earlier during his youth in the mid-1980s as a participant in the Billboard-Utilising Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions (BUGA-UP) campaign, which targeted outdoor cigarette advertising.

After running federally in the 2013 election for the seat of Wills, Dr Read stood for Brunswick in the 2014 Victorian state election before successfully capturing the seat in 2018. The Greens currently hold the inner-suburban electorate with a solid two-candidate preferred margin against the Labor Party.

Throughout his parliamentary career, Dr Read advocated for significant legislative reforms. According to party leadership, his efforts contributed to policy changes surrounding pill testing, tobacco licensing, the abolition of public drunkenness laws, and the establishment of a statewide framework aimed at eradicating congenital syphilis and HIV transmission. His parliamentary work also helped secure policy shifts allowing gay men to donate blood and instituting a statutory ban on solitary confinement within state prisons.

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll shared that he had spoken with Dr Read recently, praising his humane contributions to public debate and his lifelong commitment to integrity and reform. Victorian Opposition Leader Jess Wilson similarly remembered Dr Read as an honest broker and a man of deep conviction who approached cross-bench negotiations and parliamentary duties with fairness and respect. During his time in parliament, Dr Read also led the Integrity and Oversight Committee and pushed for strengthened anti-corruption measures.

Dr Read's cancer diagnosis stemmed from a melanoma that had been removed from his leg seven years prior. After noticing a swollen leg while preparing for work, subsequent medical scans revealed that the disease had spread throughout his body, prompting his decision to step down ahead of the state's upcoming electoral cycle.

Because Victoria is already scheduled to go to the polls on November 28, a separate by-election for the Brunswick electorate will not be required. In his valedictory address delivered to the Victorian parliament earlier in the year, Dr Read reflected on the fundamental purpose of public service, describing politics as an active pursuit to improve community wellbeing for current and future generations.