Joe Hockey

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The Hon
 Joe Hockey
 BA, LLB, MP
Joe Hockey

Joe Hockey in a media conference at Telstra Dome


In office
30 January 2007 – 3 December 2007
Preceded by Kevin Andrews
Succeeded by Julia Gillard
Constituency North Sydney

In office
22 October 2004 – 29 January 2007
Succeeded by Ian Campbell

Incumbent
Assumed office 
March 1996
Preceded by E C (Ted) Mack

Born 2 August 1965 (1965-08-02) (age 42)
Sydney, New South Wales
Political party Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse Melissa Babbage[1]

Joseph Benedict "Joe" Hockey (born 2 August 1965), Australian politician, is the former Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, in the Howard Government and the current Federal Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing.[2] He is a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of North Sydney since March 1996.

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Early life and career

Hockey was born in Sydney, New South Wales. His father, Richard Hockey, who came to Australia in 1948, was born in Bethlehem, West Bank (pre-1948 Palestine), of Armenian background - the family name was originally Hokeidonian.[3][4] Hockey attended St Aloysius' College and the University of Sydney, residing at St John's College, where he graduated with degrees in Arts and Law. He was a banking and finance lawyer, and Director of Policy to the Premier of New South Wales, before entering politics.

Political career

A spoof "15 dollar" note issued by unions criticising Hockey's role as the main spokesperson on the Workchoices policy during the 2007 Election campaign
A spoof "15 dollar" note issued by unions criticising Hockey's role as the main spokesperson on the Workchoices policy during the 2007 Election campaign

Hockey was Minister for Financial Services and Regulation 1998-2001 and Minister for Small Business and Tourism 2001-04. In October 2004 he was promoted to the Human Services portfolio, a position he held in addition to his appointment in 2006 as Minister assisting the Minister for Workplace Relations. In the January 2007 Cabinet reshuffle, Hockey was promoted to the cabinet in the position of Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and held that position until the Howard government's defeat at the 2007 election.

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 the 16 April 2007, following controversy over plans to stage a pre-dawn Anzac Day service in Vietnam.[5][6]

In December 2007, Joe Hockey was made Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing, and Manager of Opposition Business in the House.[7]

There have been talks recently about Hockey becoming the new leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party. [8]

See Also

References

Political offices
Preceded by
Ian Macfarlane
Minister for Small Business and Tourism
2001 – 2004
Succeeded by
Fran Bailey
New title Minister for Human Services
20042007
Succeeded by
Ian Campbell
Preceded by
Kevin Andrews
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2007
Succeeded by
Julia Gillard
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Ted Mack
Member for North Sydney
1996 – present
Incumbent