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State funeral to be held for Victorian Labor MP Jane Garrett after she dies from cancer at 49

Jane Garrett was due to leave parliament in the state poll this November. (AAP: Angus Livingston)

A state funeral will be held for former Victorian government minister Jane Garrett who has died aged 49.

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 and went into remission, but the cancer returned this year.

Ms Garrett was due to leave parliament at this November's state election.

Tributes for the MP have flowed since news of her death with both her family and her colleagues in politics describing her dedication during her career.

Ms Garrett was elected to the parliament in 2010 when she won the seat of Brunswick and was the minister for emergency services, consumer affairs, gaming and liquor regulation.

She resigned from the cabinet in 2016 when the Andrews government tried to push through a bitterly disputed enterprise bargaining agreement for firefighters, which she said she could not support.

The mother of three moved to the Upper House in the 2018 election.

Prior to becoming an MP, Ms Garrett worked as a lawyer and served as a councillor for the City of Yarra.

Family pays tribute to 'contagious love of life'

Ms Garrett's family said she had been admitted to hospital earlier this week after a period of remission, due to the return of her cancer.

The MP was a mother to three children — 19-year-old Molly, 15-year-old Sasha and 10-year-old Max — and the family said their welfare was the priority during the "impossibly difficult time".

"We will always remember Jane for her contagious love of life and people; her intense compassion and the drive which made her a very fierce advocate for women and those most disadvantaged," they said.

The family thanked staff at Epworth Freemasons for the love and care shown toward Ms Garrett while she was ill.

They also said they were still working through funeral arrangements.

Kind words from all sides of politics

In a statement, Daniel Andrews described her as a passionate advocate for the rights of working people.

The Premier said her family accepted the offer of a state funeral, and details will be released in coming days.

Ms Garrett's other Labor colleagues paid tribute to her on social media, with former minister Martin Pakula calling her a dear friend, Employment Minister Jaala Pulford describing her as "larger than life" and MP Ros Spence thanking her for "all you did for others who needed a voice".

Former premier Steve Bracks, under whom Ms Garrett served as a senior adviser, released a statement saying the Labor movement had "lost a true champion".

"She didn't waste a minute. She lived a life of service, as a lawyer, adviser, mayor, member of parliament and minister," he wrote.

Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said Ms Garrett would "light up any room she walked into".

He said the Labor family was in mourning, and recalled how he first met Ms Garrett when they were both working as advisors in Bracks's office in the late 1990s.

"This is a devastating loss not only for the Labor movement but for her family as well," he said.

"Three young children that she was a wonderful mother to, a husband and she was also a daughter.

"She was loved and cherished by all in her community."

He said Ms Garrett would be "forever remembered, and we will ache for some time".

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy described Ms Garrett as "approachable and intelligent" and said she wasn't "intimidated or frightened to stand up for her principles".

"The state Opposition send our sincere condolences to Jane's family, particularly her husband and her three children, at this most difficult time."

Western Victoria MP Andy Meddick from the Animal Justice Party said when he entered parliament as a crossbencher "it was Jane Garrett I was sat next to".

"She taught me procedure, we swapped bad jokes, and she stole my pens," he said.

"I'll miss her and my thoughts tonight are with her family. Rest well comrade."

Reason Party MP Fiona Patten described Ms Garrett's death as a "heartbreaking loss".

"A rare person in politics and a rare person in general," she said.

"Vale Jane Garrett. Gone far too soon."

Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam also paid tribute, offering "deepest condolences to Jane's family, loved ones and colleagues".

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