Last graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1983 with a PhD titled "Aspects of the ecology and zoogeography of fishes from soft-bottom habitats of the Tasmanian shore zone".[3]
Last is the co-author of Sharks and Rays of Australia[4] and co-author of A revision of the Australian handfishes (Lophiiformes: Brachionichthyidae), with descriptions of three new genera and nine new species.[5] In 2009, the Australian Society for Fish Biology awarded Last its highest honour, the K. Radway Allen Award.[6]
^Ward, Robert D.; Holmes, Bronwyn H.; White, William T. & Last, Peter R. (2008). "DNA barcoding Australasian chondrichthyans: results and potential uses in conservation". Marine and Freshwater Research. 59 (1): 57–71. CiteSeerX10.1.1.509.6954. doi:10.1071/MF07148.