A rising political star and three-time mayor has been found dead at home, sending shockwaves through n politics.
Sarah Carter, 45, was found by emergency services at her Maribyrnong home in Melbourne’s west at about 3.45pm on Tuesday and couldn’t be revived.
Victoria Police confirmed it was preparing a report for the coroner but did not share details on her cause of death, which is not being treated as suspicious.
Cr Carter was a member of the Labor Party and voted as mayor of Maribyrnong three times – in 2011, 2020 and 2022.
The councillor was also a ‘passionate advocate’ of the arts and pushed for programs including the Creative West project, formerly known as NeXT, and Festival City.
She received multiple awards since she was first elected to the council in 2008 and was serving her fourth consecutive term.
Many Labor insiders tipped Cr Carter as a future MP as she was well-liked within Melbourne and Canberra political circles.
Cr Carter had only returned from her trip to ‘remote communities on Santo and Malekula Islands in Vanuatu’ earlier this week.
The tour was organised by Save the Children as part of its n Regional Leadership Initiative.
During the trip, Cr Carter had the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister of Vanuatu, learn about the Pacific culture and the impact of ‘s aid programs.
‘Vanuatu is recognised as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impacts of climate change and disasters and we got to witness firsthand the impact of resilience and adaptation initiatives benefiting communities through ‘s bilateral and multilateral development programs,’ Cr Carter said.
Former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Michael McCormack had joined Cr Carter on the trip and remembered her as a ‘beautiful human’ and ‘force of nature’.
‘She made such a difference and the world is a lesser place for her passing,’ he told The Age on Tuesday night.
‘She was smart, funny, intelligent. I am gutted.’
Labor MP Tim Watts also spoke to the outlet, saying Cr Carter ‘lived a life of values and of service’.
‘Her energy was limitless and was exhausting for those of us trying to keep up,’ he said.
‘I had the privilege of seeing first hand the impact that Sarah had as a councillor and mayor in Melbourne’s west, as an international aid and development advocate and as a friend. She had an impact on so many people’s lives.
‘She gave so much of herself and wanted to give so much more. She’s been taken from us far too soon. It’s a terrible loss to our community and our country.’
Cr Carter was in the running to be a potential Labor candidate for federal seat of Hawke in 2021 but the contest quickly turned to in-party fighting over gender representation.
Cr Carter shared her thoughts on the matter during a rally on the steps of Victorian Parliament and demanded a woman be chosen to fill the seat.
She also had many supporters who followed her IVF journey, which she shared online following infertility struggles.
Maribyrnong Council also shared a heartfelt tribute to Cr Carter on Tuesday night.
‘Council is tonight shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of former Mayor and councillor Sarah Carter,’ the staement read.
‘Councillor Carter was a trusted and valued colleague and her passing is an enormous loss to our community who she has worked tirelessly to support over her 16 years on Council.
‘Maribyrnong’s first three-time female mayor, councillor Carter was only the second mayor in our municipality’s history to achieve Emeritus status – the highest recognition for distinguished service in local government leadership.
‘We extend our deepest condolences to Cr Carter’s partner, family, friends, and all who knew and worked alongside her. She will be greatly missed.’
Minister for the NDIS and federal Maribyrnong MP Bill Shorten hailed Cr Carter as a ‘remarkable, irreplaceable, dedicated, passionate advocate’.
‘Children’s champion , community leader, Labor through and through. The best of us,’ he said.
‘My thoughts are with her family and loved ones in this difficult time.’
Cr Carter recently celebrated an anniversary with her partner, Nikhil Roy, in late May.
She shared a series of photos of her and Mr Roy enjoying dinner at a fine dining Middle Eastern venue, Maha Restaurant, for their celebration.
‘Happy anniversary to us! Love you, thank you for being you; you are so very special, one of a kind,’ she wrote.
However, it was the her previous relationship that made headlines in the past.
Cr Carter announced her engagement to Aaron Lipson in March 2020 but shared a cryptic Facebook post just days later.
‘The wedding is off,’ she said.
‘Thank you to the woman for telling me, best to know now.
‘I’m obviously terribly embarrassed.’
The couple were then re-engaged 18 months later in September 2021 and remained together in late 2022 but seemingly never went ahead with the wedding.