Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell expecting first child with Josh Burns

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell and federal Labor MP Josh Burns are expecting their first child together— which was a “welcome surprise” for the unlikely political couple.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell and federal Labor MP Josh Burns are having their first child together. Picture: Supplied.

Unlikely political power couple Georgie Purcell and Josh Burns are preparing to welcome their first child together.

In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, the high-profile duo said they were thrilled to finally announce that they had a daughter on the way.

“She is a welcome surprise,” Purcell said.

The MPs, who hail from different political parties and different parliaments, turned heads as they officially hard-launched their relationship ahead of last year’s Midwinter Ball in Canberra after weeks of what they had described at the time as “harmful gossip”.

Ms Purcell, an Animal Justice Party MP, is arguably state parliament’s most colourful character, regularly calling out sexist trolls online, wearing purple crocs to parliament and lining up dead ducks for annual anti-hunting protests.

The political power couple were thrilled to find out they would be parents.

The 33-year-old country girl is also covered in tatts and previously worked as a stripper before bursting onto the political scene at the 2022 state election.

Mr Burns, on the other hand, is a clean-skinned basketball enthusiast who is fiercely proud of his Jewish identity and worked as a Labor staffer before success at the 2019 federal election.

The 38-year-old is also already a father to daughter, Tia, who he shares with his ex-wife.

Despite their differences and the many job pressures that come with being MPs, they’ve made it work and will be welcoming their first bub early next year.

“Life sometimes can throw surprising and beautiful things at you and I am really excited to share this with Georgie,” Mr Burns said.

“We’re a blended family already and my beautiful daughter is super excited to be getting a sister.”

As for a last name, the progressive couple have decided she will be a Purcell.

Prior to holding the positive pregnancy test in her fingertips a few months ago, the crossbench MP had never truly imagined herself being a mother.

But Ms Purcell said she was comforted by watching Josh with his seven-year-old daughter, Tia.

They are expecting a baby girl in the New Year. Picture: Supplied.

“He’s an amazing dad and that gives me some assurance,” she said.

“I never planned on being a politician either.

“Sometimes things come along at the right time.”

The journey so far, however, has been a nerve-racking one as Ms Purcell suffers from an auto-immune disease that risks causing foetal heart block.

Now 17 weeks along, she has been getting weekly tests which she says have so far been reassuring.

The fierce pro-choice advocate, who has previously had abortions, said deciding to continue with the pregnancy had only strengthened her beliefs.

“I’m grateful that I could make this decision now when I’m ready and capable of being a parent,” she said.

With less than 18 months to go until the state election, Ms Purcell said she planned to work until the end of the year and would be back for the first sitting week in February.

“When you’re two politicians your mind goes to how this will work,” she said.

“But if I’m not there then nobody is.

“And it’s my absolute plan to run again and to run very seriously and this life change won’t get in the way.”

Mr Burns, who is fresh out of an election himself, fending off both the Liberals and the Greens in the inner southeastern seat of Macnamara – home to one of the biggest Jewish communities in the country – said he had no doubt they could make it work.

While Ms Purcell is not Jewish, the baby will grow up in a Jewish household and celebrate traditional holidays.

“Being Jewish is a big part of my world and a big part of my home,” Mr Burns said.

“That’s something Georgie has really embraced.”

As for who lays down the law in the Purcell-Burns household, Mr Burns conceded that Georgie would “obviously be the fun one”.