Victoria's Minister for Family Violence Prevention Fiona Richardson, aged 50, has died a day after announcing she was taking more time off after being diagnosed with multiple tumours.

Ms Richardson was diagnosed with breast cancer and took time off in 2013 to recover.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ms Richardson said she had intended to work part-time next week; however she added: "My recovery is not going the way I planned".

"I remain passionately committed to the vision shared by myself and other victim-survivors to eradicate violence in the home within a generation and to end its dangerous and costly impact on families and children," Ms Richardson said.

But on Wednesday, her family said she had passed away "bravely".

"Fiona's had a significant impact on public issues at a local, state and national level," the statement said.

"Fiona had unfinished business. 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."

State Parliament has been suspended for the day, while a yellow rose has been placed on her seat in the Lower House.

'We can do more and we must'

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the best people in public life were those who lived their values and Ms Richardson not only did that, he said, she demanded the same of everyone.

"Under her watch a dark and silent tragedy was brought into the harsh and unforgiving light of a royal commission — and the 2,000 pages of that commission's final report are her greatest legacy to public life," he said.

A rose has been left on Fiona Richardson's seat in Parliament. ( ABC News: Jean Edwards )

"Victoria has a different system now. Our state will never be the same. Lives have been saved. And I know who to thank."

Mr Andrews said she did all of that work not for her self, but for others.

"In one of her first speeches as minister she said 'we can do more and we must'. In her memory, we will," he said.

It is expected that the Victorian Parliament will suspend sitting on Thursday morning following a statement from the Premier and others.

Labor leader Bill Shorten tweeted: "We have lost a brave, remarkable and inspirational woman."

"This is so sad. Thinking of everything Fiona Richardson achieved," he added.

In tributes on Twitter, Ms Richardson was praised by MP Louise Staley.

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Shadow Treasurer Michael O'Brien also paid tribute to Ms Richardson.

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'Gutsy' champion for victim-survivors

Last year, she revealed to Australian Story that her family had its own history of traumatic domestic violence.

"I have no memories before the age of eight that do not involve violence," she told Australian Story.

According to Ms Richardson, her now deceased father, Ernest, was charming and charismatic.

"The problem was, of course, he wasn't like that all the time and when he was drunk he was a very different man," she said.

Her family, including husband Stephen and two children Marcus and Catherine, said it had taken guts to speak out about her own family.

"Her strength and insight — the love between her, mother Veronica, brothers Hamish and Alastair — touched the lives of many people and allowed them a glimpse of why she was such a fearless champion for victim-survivors," the family said.

Continue Richardson's inspirational work: Batty

Anti-family violence campaigner Rosie Batty said Ms Richardson was an inspiration, and her death should be a catalyst, bringing together politicians and the wider community to complete the work she began.

"This creates an opportunity in the worst way possible to really understand how important it is, that we really honour who she was, and her contribution and have a united commitment to fulfilling her vision," Ms Batty said.

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Ms Richardson was also praised as a strong advocate for working people and tireless in her determination to end family violence by the Victorian Trades Hall.

Fiona McCormack of Domestic Violence Victoria said her work as minister was not just a job for Ms Richardson, "it was a mission."

She was elected to Parliament in November 2006 as the member for Northcote.

She held parliamentary secretary roles in education and treasury, before being named as Australia's first minister for the prevention of family violence.

Health Minister Jill Hennessy will remain Acting Minister for Women and Prevention of Family Violence.

Australian Story will have a special broadcast on the life of Fiona Richardson on Monday night at 8:00pm.