Emma Hurst

Last updated

The Honourable
Emma Hurst
MLC
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
Assumed office
23 March 2019
Personal details
Born (1981-03-25) 25 March 1981 (age 41)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political party Animal Justice Party
Alma mater Monash University
ProfessionPsychologist
Website https://www.emmahurstmp.com/

Emma Christine Hurst (born 25 March 1981) [1] is an Australian politician, psychologist and vegan bodybuilder. [2] She was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the Animal Justice Party at the 2019 state election. [3] [4]

Contents

Hurst became involved in animal welfare in 2002, and worked as a media officer for PETA [5] and campaign officer for Animal Liberation. She contested the seat of Grayndler for the Animal Justice Party at the 2016 Australian federal election, and became a member of the NSW Legislative Council following the 2019 NSW state election. [6]

Early years and background

Born and raised in Sydney, Hurst became an animal activist during childhood. [7] [ clarification needed ]

Hurst graduated from Monash University and is a registered psychologist. [8]

Animal campaigning

Hurst has run a campaign that saw two major duck producers successfully prosecuted by the ACCC, the end of various cruel wild goat racing events, multiple companies including major burger chains and butchers cease their sales of rabbit meat, and hundreds of animals released from medical research. [7]

Vegan bodybuilding

Hurst became a vegan bodybuilder at age 37. Despite being told she was "too old to compete" and "it would be too hard to go into a bodybuilding competition as a vegan", Hurst took home three gold medals at Australian Natural Bodybuilding bikini competitions. [9] Following her success she continues to advocate for a healthy plant-based lifestyle, competing in numerous half marathons.

Political career

In 2019 Hurst became the second member of the Animal Justice Party elected to the NSW Legislative Council. [3] [10]

Soon after her election she established and chaired a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the Use of Battery Cages for Hens in the Egg Production Industry. [3] [11] The Inquiry recommended that all food products containing eggs from caged hens should be clearly labelled for the benefit of consumers, and a phase-out of battery cage hen farming in NSW. [12] [13]

On September 26, 2019, Hurst established a second Inquiry into the exhibition of exotic animals in circuses and exhibition of cetaceans in NSW, where she served as Deputy Chair. [14]

Hurst has been a frequent opponent of Australian ag-gag laws, speaking out against the NSW Government's Right to Farm Bill and increased biosecurity legislation. She has campaigned for increased transparency in the Australian animal agriculture industry. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Division of Grayndler</span> Australian federal electoral division

The Division of Grayndler is an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party</span> Political party in Australia

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (SFF) is an Australian political party. It primarily advocates for increased funding and services for rural and regional Australia, protecting the right to farm, enhancing commercial and recreational fishing, tougher sentencing for illegal firearm trade and usage, and relaxing gun control for law abiding citizens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelley Hancock</span> Australian politician

Shelley Elizabeth Hancock, an Australian politician. Hancock has been a Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly seat of South Coast since 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral district of Marrickville</span> Former state electoral district of New South Wales, Australia

Marrickville was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It was an urban electorate in Sydney's inner west, centred on the suburb of Marrickville from which it took its name. At the time of its abolition it also included the suburbs of Camperdown, Darlington, Enmore, Lewisham, Newtown, Petersham, Stanmore and parts of Dulwich Hill and Erskineville as well as the University of Sydney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Rhiannon</span> Australian politician (born 1951)

Lee Rhiannon is a former Australian politician who was a Senator for New South Wales between July 2011 and August 2018. She was elected at the 2010 federal election, representing the Australian Greens. Prior to her election to the Federal Parliament, Rhiannon was a Greens NSW member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1999 and 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Burney</span> Australian politician

Linda Jean Burney is an Australian politician and is an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing Barton since the 2016 federal election. She is Minister for Indigenous Australians in the Albanese ministry, and the first woman who identifies as Aboriginal to serve in that position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battery cage</span> Agricultural technology

Battery cages are a housing system used for various animal production methods, but primarily for egg-laying hens. The name arises from the arrangement of rows and columns of identical cages connected together, in a unit, as in an artillery battery. Although the term is usually applied to poultry farming, similar cage systems are used for other animals. Battery cages have generated controversy between advocates for animal welfare and industrial producers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gladys Berejiklian</span> 45th Premier of New South Wales

Gladys Berejiklian is an Australian former politician who served as the 45th premier of New South Wales and the leader of the New South Wales division of the Liberal Party from 2017 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeannette McHugh</span> Australian politician

Jeannette McHugh is a former Australian politician who was the first woman from New South Wales elected to federal parliament. She served in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1996, representing the Australian Labor Party (ALP), and was Minister for Consumer Affairs in the Keating Government from 1992 to 1996. She was a schoolteacher and political activist prior to entering parliament.

Robyn Mary Parker, is a former Australian politician, and was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Maitland for the Liberal Party from 2011 to 2015 and was previously a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales between 2003 and 2011. Parker was the New South Wales Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Heritage in the O'Farrell government from 2011 until April 2014. Parker was succeeded by Rob Stokes in the Baird cabinet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cate Faehrmann</span> Australian politician

Cate Faehrmann is an Australian politician and environmental activist. Faehrmann was a Greens member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 2011 to 2013. She resigned from the Legislative Council in June 2013 to stand for the Senate at the federal election of the same year and was unsuccessful in obtaining a seat. She worked in the office of the Leader of the Australian Greens, Richard Di Natale, as his chief of staff from May 2015 to March 2018. In August 2018 she was re-elected to the Legislative Council to fill the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Mehreen Faruqi, who had replaced Lee Rhiannon in the Australian Senate.

Kim Michelle Hollingsworth is an Australian woman who was formerly a stripper, prostitute, student police officer and undercover agent. She was dismissed from the New South Wales Police Academy for failing to disclose her past. Her judicial attempts for reinstatement were ultimately unsuccessful.

Robert Borsak is the leader of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (SFF). He represents the party in the New South Wales Legislative Council. He was chosen by the Shooters and Fishers Party to fill the New South Wales Legislative Council vacancy caused by the death of Roy Smith on 30 July 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal Justice Party</span> Political party in Australia

Animal Justice Party (AJP) is a political party in Australia founded in 2009. The party was registered by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) on 3 May 2011. The party is also registered in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory. The AJP is the first political party in Australia formed solely to advance animal welfare issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mehreen Faruqi</span> Australian politician

Mehreen Saeed Faruqi is an Australian politician and former engineer who has been a Senator for New South Wales since 15 August 2018, representing the Greens. She was chosen to fill a casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Lee Rhiannon, before being elected in her own right in 2019. She had previously served in the New South Wales Legislative Council between June 2013 and August 2018. Since June 2022, Faruqi has served as Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens.

Alister Andrew Henskens is an Australian politician. He has served as the New South Wales Minister for Skills and Training, the Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly since December 2021 in the Perrottet ministry. He previously served as the Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services between May and December 2021.

Animal Liberation is a nonprofit animal rights organisation based in Sydney, founded by Christine Townend and led by current CEO Lynda Stoner. It was formed in 1976, one year after the release of Animal Liberation by Australian philosopher Peter Singer. Animal Liberation's primary campaigns are to advocate against the use of animals for food, clothing, research, sport and entertainment, by promoting a vegan lifestyle.

Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council were mostly elected at the 1933 and 1936 elections. A further 15 were elected by a joint sitting of the New South Wales Parliament in November 1939. The President was Sir John Peden.</ref>

Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council who served between April 1934 and April 1937 were elected in 1933 or at a by-election. Prior to 1934 members had been appointed for life by the Governor on the advice of the Executive Council. This was the first occasion in which members had been elected, not directly by the people, but by a joint sitting of the New South Wales Parliament with members having a 12 year term. Being the first election, the members were elected in four groups of 15 members, for terms ending in 1937, 1940, 1943 and 1946. The President was Sir John Peden.</ref>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abigail Boyd</span> Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council

Abigail Selina Boyd is an Australian politician living on the Central Coast in New South Wales. She has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 2019, representing the Greens.

References

  1. ↑ MlcHurst. "Today is my birthday. I just turned 40 Rather than 'reflecting on the years' I want to say this: I remember why I am here. A birthday is just another day to keep fighting for change and animal protection. Let's see what we can achieve in another 40 years". Twitter. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  2. ↑ Simmons, Zoe (14 April 2019). "Vegan protests: Vegan bodybuilder shows off incredible bikini body". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Hon. Emma Hurst, MLC". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales . Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  4. ↑ Stewart, Selby (15 April 2019). "David Leyonhjelm misses out on NSW Upper House seat". ABC News.
  5. ↑ Hurst, Emma (10 April 2018). "Why are we 'shocked' about live export horrors?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  6. ↑ "Grayndler - Australia Votes | Federal Election 2016 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". ABC News. ABC Elections. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 "About Emma". Emma Hurst MP. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  8. ↑ "Emma Hurst - Registered Psychologist & Campaign Director at Animal Liberation - 2015 Animal Activist Forum presentation". 3CR Community Radio. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  9. ↑ "Controversial secret behind woman's insane bikini body". NewsComAu. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  10. ↑ Taylor, Andrew (20 April 2019). "'Animal protection isn't just a left issue': Meet the vegan MP whose policies may change what you eat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "Legislative Council Select Committee on the Use of Battery Cages for Hens in the Egg Production Industry". Parliament of New South Wales. 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ Rabe, Tom (29 October 2019). "Calls for a national standard for labelling egg products". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  13. ↑ Hurst, Emma (30 October 2019). "Media Release: NSW Egg Industry's dirty plan supported by Labor in Upper House Inquiry". Emma Hurst MP. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  14. ↑ "Exhibition of exotic animals in circuses and exhibition of cetaceans in New South Wales". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  15. ↑ "NSW to Pass More Laws Aimed at Silencing Animal Activists". Sydney Criminal Lawyers. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.