Victoria's Minister for Family Violence Prevention Fiona Richardson has died after battling cancer.

Victoria's Minister for Women Fiona Richardson has died a day after revealing her renewed battle with cancer.

The 50-year-old, who was also Australia's first minister for the prevention of family violence, only announced on Tuesday that she had been diagnosed with multiple tumours.

Her family said on Wednesday evening the wife and mother-of-two had been an "unwavering advocate" for family violence survivors.

"Fiona had unfinished business," they said in a statement. "She wanted violence in the home to stop and she knew for that to happen it would take dedication and leadership over the course of a generation."

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said Ms Richardson "knew no fear", "tolerated no prejudice" and "fought until the very end".

"In fact, she only relieved herself of her parliamentary responsibilities yesterday."

She had been "a person of conviction, of character, of extraordinary composure", he said and could never be replaced.

"Not in our government. Not in our movement. Not ever."

The long-serving MP announced she was taking a leave of absence as a result of an unspecified condition more than two weeks ago before revealing her diagnosis on Tuesday.

"I intended to return to work part time next week, however my recovery is not going the way I had planned," she said.

The Labor right factional leader joined the party in 1991 and won the inner seat of Northcote in 2006.

She successfully fought breast cancer in 2013.

Last year, Ms Richardson opened up about her own history of domestic violence at the hands of her alcoholic, abusive father in Tanzania on the ABC's Australian Story.

"I have no memories before the age of eight that do not involve violence," she said at the time.

Former governor-general Quentin Bryce introduced the program, which followed the Richardsons' journey back to their former city of Dar es Salaam as they came to terms with their troubled history.

"We've lost a remarkable, brave and inspirational woman," federal party leader Bill Shorten said on Twitter on Wednesday night.

Victoria's opposition leader Matthew Guy wrote: "the sadness at Spring Street will be immense".

"Vale Labor warrior, Minister and friend Fiona Richardson. Our deepest condolences to her family and friends," former federal employment minister Brendan O'Connor posted.

Former Australian of the Year and family violence survivor Rosie Batty said Ms Richardson had been a "huge support to me during my journey".

Ms Richardson is survived by her husband Stephen and two children.