The wife of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, Deborah Chemke, has died after a long battle with illness.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Dreyfus will be taking leave.
"I give my sincere condolences on behalf of the government, on behalf of the Labor party, and on behalf of Mark's many friends and family for this very sad loss after a very long and difficult illness," he said.
"Deborah showed enormous courage and fight for a considerable period of time. This is a sad time. Mr. Dreyfus will be taking leave as Attorney General from today.
"I encouraged him to return to work only when he is able to do so. This is a time in which he should be allowed to grieve with his family and I ask that his privacy and the privacy of his family be respected."
The couple were married for 44 years and had three children, Joe, Tom and Laura, who were with Ms Chemke when she passed away overnight.
Mr Albanese issued a statement late on Wednesday, extending his deepest sympathies to those mourning Ms Chemke.
"Our first thoughts today are with Mark Dreyfus, her beloved husband of 44 years, their children Joe, Tom and Laura, and their grandchildren," he said.
"Everyone who knows Mark knows he adored Deborah. She was his most trusted source of advice and his constant inspiration. Above all, she was Mark's great love.
"Deborah was a skilled linguist and a woman of great intelligence and inner strength. That she came to this country from her native Chile was very much Australia's good fortune. No one considered themselves more fortunate than Mark. In each other they found their own universe.
"All of us who count Mark as a friend know Deborah's illness has been an incredibly difficult time for their family. Yet through it all Deborah, Mark and their loved ones showed extraordinary grace and courage."
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Albanese said Mr Dreyfus has been absent from parliament for a period of time due to his wife's illness but had continued to fulfil his Attorney General duties.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Ms Chemke was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2005. She underwent treatment but the cancer returned in 2006.
Natalie Vikhrov
Natalie Vikhrov reports on federal politics and public service for The Canberra Times. Prior to this, she spent several years covering human rights in Eastern Europe, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Get in touch via natalie.vikhrov@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
Natalie Vikhrov reports on federal politics and public service for The Canberra Times. Prior to this, she spent several years covering human rights in Eastern Europe, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Get in touch via natalie.vikhrov@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
