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Emma Christine Hurst (born 1981) is an Australian politician, psychologist and vegan bodybuilder. She was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the Animal Justice Party at the state election on 23 March 2019.

Hurst became involved in animal welfare in 2002, and worked as a media officer for PETA 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.

Early years and background

Born and raised in Sydney, Hurst became an animal activist and advocate for a plant-based diet during childhood

Hurst graduated from Monash University as a Registered Psychologist, BA(Psy), PGDip(Psy), M(HealthPsy).

Animal campaigning

Hurst has run a number of highly successful campaigns 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.

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. Following her success she continues to advocate for a healthy plant-based lifestyle, competing in numerous half marathons.

Parliamentary career

In 2019 Hurst became the second member of the Animal Justice Party elected to the NSW Legislative Council after the party secured 1.95 per cent of the vote in the March election.

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. The Inquiry recommended that all food products containing eggs from caged hens should be clearly labelled for the benefit of consumers, but was unsuccessful in recommending a time based phase-out of battery cage hen farming in NSW.

On September 26, 2019, Ms Hurst established a second Inquiry into the Exhibition of exotic animals in circuses and exhibition of cetaceans in New South Wales, where she served as Deputy Chair.

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 and defended the public's right to know how millions of animals are treated in farms and slaughterhouses.

References

1. Simmons, Zoe (14 April 2019). "Vegan protests: Vegan bodybuilder shows off incredible bikini body". www.news.com.au. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
2. Stewart, Selby (15 April 2019). "David Leyonhjelm misses out on NSW Upper House seat". ABC News.
3. Hurst, Emma (10 April 2018). "Why are we 'shocked' about live export horrors?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
4. "Grayndler - Australia Votes | Federal Election 2016 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". ABC News. ABC Elections. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
5. "About Emma". Emma Hurst MP. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
6. "Emma Hurst - Registered Psychologist & Campaign Director at Animal Liberation - 2015 Animal Activist Forum presentation". 3CR Community Radio. 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
7. "About Emma". Emma Hurst MP. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
8. "Controversial secret behind woman's insane bikini body". NewsComAu. 2019-04-12. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
9. Taylor, Andrew (2019-04-20). "'Animal protection isn't just a left issue': Meet the vegan MP whose policies may change what you eat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
10. "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)
11. Rabe, Tom (2019-10-29). "Calls for a national standard for labelling egg products". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
12. October 30, Emma Hurst 9sc on; 2019. "Media Release: NSW Egg Industry's dirty plan supported by Labor in Upper House Inquiry". Emma Hurst MP. Retrieved 2019-11-08. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
13. "Exhibition of exotic animals in circuses and exhibition of cetaceans in New South Wales". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
14. "NSW to Pass More Laws Aimed at Silencing Animal Activists". Sydney Criminal Lawyers. 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2019-11-08.

• 1980s births
• Living people
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council
• Women members of the New South Wales Legislative Council
• Animal Justice Party politicians
• Monash University alumni
• Australian psychologists
• Australian female bodybuilders