‘Sweetness, strength and love’: Political power couple welcome first child together

2 months ago 13

Federal Labor MP Josh Burns says the birth of his baby girl, five days after the Bondi terror attack, has highlighted how important it is for Jews to feel safe in Australia.

Burns and Victorian Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell welcomed Lilah Poppy Purcell on Friday.

Lilah and Poppy represent purple and red flowers, the colours of the couple’s different political stripes, although the couple say that it was a coincidence and not the reason behind either name.

She arrived early and weighing 2.56kg.

One of Labor’s most senior Jewish MPs, Burns said he had experienced immense lows and highs over the past week, with Lilah born five days after the Bondi terror attack.

“My heart will always stay with my community who are in mourning, but I’m also feeling so grateful for the arrival of Lilah,” he said.

“The events of last week were utterly devastating to not only my community, but to Australia more broadly.

“It highlighted to us that we have so much more to do to make Jews feel safe in their own country.

“I am determined to raise both of my daughters proud of their Jewish heritage and proud to express it openly, and safely, in Australia.”

Purcell said Lilah was as impatient as her mother, born at 37 weeks and five days, but came at a time when their family desperately needed her.

Federal MP Josh Burns has welcomed his first child with partner and Victorian MP Georgie Purcell.

“Becoming a mum was never part of my plan but in just a few short days she has shown me that I simply couldn’t imagine a life without her,” she said.

“Lilah is my daily reminder that the decisions we make now will echo for generations.”

In a Facebook post on Monday evening, Burns said Purcell was a “superhero”.

“Straight after her body went through major surgery, she’s stepped right into being such a loving and attentive mum.”

“Children are not born with hate. My daughters will be raised in a home with love, safety and kindness.”

Burns is the MP for Macnamara, the area of inner southeast Melbourne with a large Jewish community.

His office has been frequently targeted by vandals in the years since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, and the ensuing Israeli military action in Gaza, which some international agencies have referred to as a genocide.

Purcell said Lilah was as impatient as her mother, born at 37 weeks and five days, but came at a time when their family desperately needed her.

Prior to the arrival of Lilah, Purcell spoke on the floor of parliament about her experiences being sexually harassed as a political staffer and politician on Spring Street.

Purcell is not the first Victorian MP to give birth while in office.

Among this club is Ellen Sandell, the current Greens leader in Victoria. In 2018, Sandell became the first woman to breastfeed in parliament since Kirstie Marshall in 2003.

Marshall was famously ejected from parliament for breastfeeding her 11-day-old daughter during a session.

Burns has another daughter, Tia, from a previous marriage.

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