Federal MP Josh Burns and Victorian MP Georgie Purcell have announced the birth of their daughter \u2013 whose name offers a subtle nod to their political backgrounds.<\/p>\n
The couple took to social media on Monday night to announce the arrival of Lilah Poppy Purcell, who was born on Friday 19 December, weighing 2.56kg.<\/p>\n
Burns is the Labor MP for the federal seat of Macnamara, in inner-Melbourne, while Purcell is an Animal Justice party MP, representing northern Victoria in the state\u2019s upper house.<\/p>\n
Although the couple say it wasn\u2019t intentional, their daughter\u2019s name reflects their politics: Lilah, meaning lilac, a purple flower, represents the Animal Justice party\u2019s colour, and Poppy, a red flower, represents Labor.<\/p>\n
Lilah Poppy Purcell with her parents, Labor MP Josh Burns and Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell.<\/p>\n
Purcell said Lilah has already made quite an entrance, arriving earlier than expected at 37 weeks and five days.<\/p>\n
Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cLilah is definitely proving to be my daughter \u2013 she is a little impatient, insisting on bursting into the world sooner than we were expecting. But she came at a time that was so desperately needed for our little family,\u201d she said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cBecoming a mum was never part of my plan but in just a few short days she has shown me that I simply couldn\u2019t imagine a life without her.\u201d<\/p>\n Purcell said Lilah was her \u201cdaily reminder that the decisions we make now will echo for generations\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I take a short break from work, she is the inspiration I need to return to parliament and an election next year to fight for a fairer, kinder world,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Burns, one of Labor\u2019s most prominent Jewish MPs, spent much of last week responding to the Bondi terror attack. He said he had experienced \u201cboth immense lows and highs over the past week\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cMy heart will always stay with my community who are in mourning, but I\u2019m also feeling so grateful for the arrival of Lilah. She is already loved completely and I am so excited for the future with her in our lives,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Lilah has a big sister called Tia, whom Burns shares with his ex-wife. He said he was \u201cdetermined\u201d to raise both of his daughters to be \u201cproud of their Jewish heritage and proud to express it openly, and safely, in Australia\u201d.<\/p>\n The couple made their official public debut at Canberra\u2019s 2024 Midwinter Ball<\/a>. A year later, they announced their pregnancy on social media, with Purcell telling followers she was receiving weekly medical checks as she was deemed high-risk due to her autoimmune condition.<\/p>\n