Josh Burns (politician)


Joshua Solomon Burns is an Australian politician. Representing the Australian Labor Party, he was elected as the member for the Division of Macnamara in Melbourne at the 2019 Australian federal election.

Early life

Burns was born and raised in Caulfield, a Melbourne suburb which is in his electorate. His maternal grandmother came to Australia as a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany. His paternal grandfather was born in London and came to Australia via Israel, while his paternal grandmother was born in Scotland. He was educated at Gardenvale Primary School and Mt Scopus Memorial College. He then went to Monash University, where he studied politics. He worked in a number of jobs before entering politics, including as a teacher's aide. Most recently he worked as a Senior Adviser to the Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews.

Politics

Burns ran as the Labor candidate for the seat of Caulfield in the 2014 Victorian state election and gained a 4.9% swing against Liberal incumbent David Southwick.
At the 2019 election, the renamed electorate of Macnamara was considered a vulnerable seat for Labor. Burns increased Labor's primary vote and comfortably won the seat with a two candidate preferred swing of 5.04% in his favour against Liberal candidate Kate Ashmor.

Personal life

Burns married Zoe Klein in 2015 and they have one daughter, Tia.