Joe Hockey

Infobox Prime Minister
honorific-prefix = The Honourable

name =Joe Hockey

honorific-suffix = BA, LLB, MP

|imagesize=175px
order = Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
term_start = 30 January 2007
term_end = 3 December 2007
predecessor = Kevin Andrews
successor = Julia Gillard
order2 = Minister for Human Services
term_start2 = 22 October 2004
term_end2 = 29 January 2007
predecessor2 =
successor2 = Ian Campbell
office3 = Member of the Australian Parliament for North Sydney
term_start3 = March 1996
term_end3 =
predecessor3 = E C (Ted) Mack
successor3 =
birth_date =Birth date and age|1965|8|2|df=y
birth_place =Sydney, New South Wales
death_date =
death_place =
spouse = Melissa Babbage [ [http://www.joehockey.com/mediahub/eprDetail.aspx?prID=209 Joe Hockey ] ]
constituency =North Sydney
party =Liberal Party of Australia
languagesspoken =

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 Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation. He is a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of North Sydney since March 1996.

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, then in the British Mandate of Palestine), of Armenian background - the family name was originally Hokeidonian. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/past-campaigns-give-heart-to-hockey/2007/06/29/1182624165403.html Past campaigns give heart to Hockey] , "Sydney Morning Herald", June 30, 2007] [ [http://www.joehockey.com/mediahub/transcriptDetail.aspx?prID=359 Transcript of interview with Kerri-Anne Kennerly: Mornings with Kerri-Anne - 9 Network (Interview) - transcript published on Joe Hockey's website] ] 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

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. [ [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21563844-1702,00.html Rudd, Hockey quit Sunrise spot] News Limited, April 16, 2007 ] [ [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s1898766.htm Rudd, Hockey quit Sunrise gig] ABC News ]

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.

See also

* Workchoices

References