Ernest Bracher Purnell (27 September 1866 – 25 July 1954) was a Trade union secretary and member of the Queensland Legislative Council. Purnell was born at Swansea, Wales to Thomas Purnell and his wife Caroline (née Bracher). He worked in Broken Hill as a miner before moving to Rockhampton where he began a long association with the Waterside Workers' Federation including the role of secretary for 37 years until 1938.