Joe Hockey
Joe Hockey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Treasurer of Australia | |
| Assumed office 18 September 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Abbott |
| Preceded by | Chris Bowen |
| Shadow Treasurer of Australia | |
| In office 16 February 2009 – 18 September 2013 | |
| Leader | Malcolm Turnbull Tony Abbott |
| Preceded by | Julie Bishop |
| Succeeded by | Chris Bowen |
| Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | |
| In office 30 January 2007 – 3 December 2007 | |
| Prime Minister | John Howard |
| Preceded by | Kevin Andrews |
| Succeeded by | Julia Gillard |
| Minister for Human Services | |
| In office 26 October 2004 – 30 January 2007 | |
| Prime Minister | John Howard |
| Preceded by | Jocelyn Newman (Social Security) |
| Succeeded by | Ian Campbell |
| Member of Parliament for North Sydney | |
| Assumed office 2 March 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Ted Mack |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 August 1965 North Sydney, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Other political affiliations | Coalition |
| Spouse | Melissa Babbage[1] |
| Children | 1 daughter 2 sons |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
Joseph Benedict Hockey (born 2 August 1965) is an Australian politician who has been the Member of Parliament for North Sydney since 1996. He has been the Treasurer of Australia in the Abbott Government since 18 September 2013[2] and has previously served as the Minister for Human Services and Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations in the Howard Government.
Early life and career
Hockey was born in North Sydney to an Armenian-Palestinian Australian father and an Australian mother. His father was born in Bethlehem, Palestine. The family name was originally Hokeidonian before he migrated to Australia in 1948 and changed the name to Hockey.[3][4] Hockey attended St Aloysius' College in Milson's Point and the University of Sydney, residing at St John's College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. While at university he was President of the Student Representative Council.[5] He was a banking and finance lawyer, and Director of Policy to the Premier of New South Wales, before entering politics.
Political career
Hockey was Minister for Financial Services and Regulation 1998–2001 and Minister for Small Business and Tourism 2001–04. With the return of the Howard Government in 2004, Hockey was appointed Minister for Human Services and was elevated to the Cabinet in January 2007, when appointed Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.
Hockey regularly appeared on the Seven Network's morning program Sunrise in the 'Big Guns of Politics' section debating Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd until the arrangement was mutually terminated on 16 April 2007, following controversy over plans to stage a pre-dawn Anzac Day service in Vietnam.[6][7]
In December 2007, Joe Hockey was made Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing, and Manager of Opposition Business in the House. In September 2008 he became Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation. Hockey became Shadow Treasurer in February 2009 when Julie Bishop stepped down from the portfolio.[8]
Hockey's popularity among voters grew under the leadership of Malcolm Turnbull, and in October 2009 polls showed him as the preferred Liberal leader. However, Hockey announced that he had no intention to challenge for the leadership.[9]
On 9 November 2009, Hockey gave a speech, In Defence of God, at the Sydney Institute. "Australia has embraced religious diversity. It must always remain so, and as a Member of Parliament I am a custodian of that principle of tolerance. That is why it is disturbing to hear people rail against Muslims and Jews, or Pentecostals and Catholics. Australia must continue, without fear, to embrace diversity of faith provided that those gods are loving, compassionate and just."[10][11]
On 1 December 2009, Hockey chose to include his candidacy in a party room ballot to determine the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia. The ballot was between Hockey, Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott. Hockey was eliminated in the first round of the ballot, with the eventual winner being Tony Abbott. Following the change of leadership, Hockey remained Shadow Treasurer.
Hockey told ABC TV's Q&A audience on 7 March 2011 that corporate Australia had fallen behind in female boardroom representation, and if companies failed to meet a reasonable target within a period of time, then "more punitive measures" needed to be taken by parliament.[12] He later said that, "quotas must be a last resort".[13]
Hockey is a republican.[14]
Following the 2013 election, Hockey became the Treasurer of Australia.
Personal life
Hockey is married to investment banker Melissa Babbage and they have three children, Xavier, Adelaide and Ignatius.[15] Hockey has walked the Kokoda Track[16] and has climbed Mt Kilimanjaro to raise funds for medical equipment.[17] In February 2010, Hockey appeared on the television program Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation where he was involved in a segment that required him to hold up a tutu and wave a magic wand[18] which attracted criticism from Treasurer Wayne Swan.[19] Hockey was the first Australian politician who accepted invitations to appear on the show.[20] He plays rugby union and is a loosehead prop.
References
- ^ "Joe Hockey". Joe Hockey. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". smh.com.au. AAP. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
- ^ No ordinary bloke: Joe Hockey - Sydney Morning Herald
- ^ Past campaigns give heart to Hockey, Sydney Morning Herald, 30 June 2007
- ^ Fontaine, Angus (1 April 2009). "No ordinary bloke: Joe Hockey". Sydney Morning Herald. smh.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
- ^ 16 April 2007 12:00AM (16 April 2007). "Rudd, Hockey quit Sunrise spot". News.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Lateline – 16/04/2007: Rudd, Hockey quit Sunrise gig". Abc.net.au. 16 April 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ "Joe Hockey steps up to take on Wayne Swan". The Australian. 16 February 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Joe Hockey and Malcolm Turnbull | Liberal Party and leadership battle | Poll of voting intentions | Tony Abbott | Phillip Coorey". Brisbanetimes.com.au. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ Hockey speech 'not linked to leadership' News Limited, 10 November 2009
- ^ God is good, but just be sure not to take Him too literally Fairfax Digital, 10 November 2009
- ^ "Joe Hockey's call for female boardroom quotas is opposed by peak shareholders' body". The Australian. 8 March 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ "The Gender Divide | Q&A | ABC TV". Abc.net.au. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ Abbott 'won't set back republican cause' - Ninemsn
- ^ Eriksson, Boel. "A baby boy for Joe Hockey – - News | North Shore Times". North-shore-times.whereilive.com.au. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- ^ Kokoda deaths: Trekkers warned of 'punitive' conditions Fairfax Digital, 24 April 2009
- ^ The Ultimate Burn – Mount Kilimanjaro Trek Humpty Dumpty Foundation
- ^ Joe Hockey lets it all hang out News Limited, 23 January 2010
- ^ Swan mocks Hockey as 'giant Tinkerbell' Fairfax Digital, 8 February 2010
- ^ "ABC Message Board - Q&A - Messages". B.abc.net.au. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
External links
Prime Minister: Tony Abbott | ||
| Cabinet |  | |
| Outer Ministry | ||
| Parliamentary Secretaries | ||
| Dismissed/resigned | ||
- Use dmy dates from February 2012
- 1965 births
- Australian lawyers
- Australian republicans
- Australian Roman Catholics
- Australian people of Palestinian descent
- Australian people of Armenian descent
- Liberal Party of Australia politicians
- Living people
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives for North Sydney
- People educated at St Aloysius' College (Sydney)
- People from the North Shore, Sydney
- Politicians from Sydney
- Sydney Law School alumni
- Members of the Cabinet of Australia
- Government ministers of Australia
- Treasurers of Australia
- Abbott Government