Joe Hockey

Hockey was preselected as a Liberal Party of Australia candidate for the 1996 election in the Division of North Sydney when aged just 29. He faced little preselection competition, since the seat's incumbent independent, Ted Mack, was thought to be unbeatable. However, Mack did not renominate; had his intentions been known earlier, it was widely believed at the time that Hockey would have faced a more rigorous preselection contest for what has traditionally been a "blue ribbon" Liberal seat.[6] As it was, Hockey all but assured himself of becoming the seat's next member with his preselection victory. "Traditional" two-party matchups during Mack's tenure had shown North Sydney as a fairly safe Liberal seat, and it had been a foregone conclusion that the seat would revert to the Liberals once Mack retired. In 1993, for instance, the Liberals would have held the seat on a traditional two-party margin of 9.5 percent–just on the edge of being safe. As expected, Hockey regained the seat for the Liberals on 65.6 percent of the two-party preferred vote. He actually won 57.8 percent of the primary vote, more than enough to win the seat outright without the need for preferences.

When contesting the 1996 election, Hockey bought a bus which he painted in the colours of the North Sydney Bears, which had the effect of positioning Hockey as an Independent and showed Hockey's local ties. Hockey would park the bus everywhere in his electorate to raise awareness. Robert Orrell, Hockey's campaign manager in 1995, states that Hockey presented himself as a Liberal in "John Howard" areas like Lane Cove which had recently been redistributed from Howard's seat of Bennelong. He branded himself as an independent in areas like North Sydney and McMahons Point.[15]^: 89–90 Hockey made use of his parents’ reputation within the local community and his business connections to successfully connect with supporters and volunteers - giving out umbrellas and other souvenirs. A key issue in the 1996 election was the issue of aircraft noise: Laurie Brereton, the ALP transport minister, had closed east–west runways and opened north–south runways at Sydney Airport, diverting aircraft noise from Labor seats to Liberal seats.[15]^: 91–92

Soon after his election in 1996,[18] He was appointed the chair of the Sydney Airport Community Forum.[19] During this time, Hockey formed a friendship with Anthony Albanese, and Albanese took Hockey to his electorate to see the inequalities of the airport routing. Following this, Hockey worked to address inconsistencies in the airport noise amelioration program.[15]^: 98–99 Hockey and fellow "small-l liberals" Chris Gallus and Susan Jeanes founded the short-lived John Stuart Mill Society to combat the conservative Lyons Forum.[15]^: 102 Hockey made his maiden speech in September 1996,[20] highlighting modern liberalism,[15]^{: 103–104} composed of recognition of the rights of the individual, parliamentary democracy, and committing to improve society through reform. Hockey highlighted his father's heritage,[15]^: 240 and highlighted barriers against women achieving success.[15]^{: 103–104} In the lead-up to the 1998 election, which Hockey characterised as "the GST election", despite being the minister in charge of the GST, Hockey stopped campaigning shortly before the election because he felt that talking about the GST was losing him votes.[21] He was awarded the Minister for Financial Services and Regulation portfolio from 1998 to 2001[22] and Minister for Small Business and Tourism (2001–04).

In January 2000, Hockey had done an interview with the John Laws program about the GST, confirming the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC)'s position of businesses being able to round up or down the price of goods and services when needed. This caused controversy, and The Daily Telegraph printed a story that declared that voters could be charged more than the 10% GST promised.[15]^{: 114–117}

When HIH Insurance went bankrupt in March 2001, Joe Hockey was the minister responsible for the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), which oversaw HIH. Although Hockey's office had sought written assurances from HIH that everything was fine, the public felt that Hockey was to blame. Upon learning that the estimated damages were between $4-$8 billion, Hockey took this to the Cabinet and sought a bail out. Peter Costello advised that APRA should sort out HIH.[15]^{: 124–129} After the collapse of HIH Insurance, Hockey became concerned about the NRMA, and called Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), the ACCC, APRA and the Australian Taxation Office and instructed them to investigate NRMA Insurance thoroughly.[15]^: 132

As part of his work as Tourism Minister, Hockey produced a White Paper analysing the tourism industry.[23][24][25]

With the return of the Howard government in 2004, he was appointed Minister for Human Services and was elevated to the Cabinet in January 2007, when appointed Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Although North Sydney has long been a blue-ribbon Liberal seat, Hockey was the first person in over 60 years to be promoted to cabinet while holding the seat.

In 2004 as Human Services Minister, Hockey proposed an "Access Card" and spent $3 million advertising the card before submitting the legislation to parliament.[26]

Hockey regularly appeared on the Seven Network's morning program Sunrise in the "Big Guns of Politics" section debating the Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd, drawing 20,000–30,000 additional viewers who would tune in specifically for that segment,[27] until the arrangement was mutually terminated on 16 April 2007 following controversy over plans to stage a pre-dawn Anzac Day service in Vietnam.[28][29] Hockey credits this show for introducing him to an audience who had no interest in politics.[15]^{: 141–142}

In December 2007, 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. He became Shadow Treasurer in February 2009 when Julie Bishop stepped down from the portfolio.[30]

Prior to his appointment as shadow treasurer there had been a move to get Hockey to transfer to New South Wales state politics to replace Barry O'Farrell as state Liberal leader and lead the Coalition to victory at the 2011 state election, which would have made Hockey the Premier of New South Wales. Hockey, however, denied any interest to move into state politics.[31] The push to get Hockey into state politics came to an end when he was promoted to shadow treasurer as that placed him within striking distance of becoming federal leader.[32]

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.[33]

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."[34][35]

Hockey at a press conference on the ground at Docklands Stadium, Melbourne

A Newspoll released on 30 November 2009 placed Hockey at 33%, Turnbull at 30% and Tony Abbott at 19%, when voters were asked who would be the "best person to lead" the Liberal Party.[36][37] Speculation flourished that Hockey would challenge Turnbull for the leadership of the Liberal Party, and Hockey consulted senior party dignitaries such as Howard and Costello about whether he should run.[38]

Hockey faced a dilemma. He had been a consistent supporter of the ETS. Running against Turnbull, a fellow moderate in the Liberal Party, would mean taking the leadership with the support of the party's right wing and climate change sceptics.[39]

On 1 December 2009, Hockey chose to include his candidacy in a party room ballot to determine the leadership of the Liberal Party. The ballot was between Hockey, Turnbull and Abbott. Hockey was eliminated in the first round of the ballot, with the eventual winner being Abbott. Following the change of leadership, Hockey remained Shadow Treasurer.

He 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.[40] He later said that "quotas must be a last resort".[41]

Hockey gave a speech to the Grattan Institute on 11 March 2010 called "In Defence of Liberty".[42] The speech defended anti-terrorism laws and rejected a hypothetical bill of rights, while criticising increased police powers.[43] A series of "In Defence..." speeches by Hockey followed over 2010 and 2011: "In Defence of Enterprise" to the EIDOS Institute on 14 April 2010;[44] "In Defence of Opportunity" to the Sydney Institute on 9 March 2011;[45] and "In Defence of Youth" to the University of New England on 27 July 2011.[46] This series of speeches were seen as Hockey's bid for the Liberal leadership.[47]

Biographer Madonna King points out "Australia's Future Engagement in the Asian Century" (25 October 2011)[48] and "The Future of Free Markets, Global Trade and Commerce" (7 December 2011)[49] as other key speeches from this three-year period of Joe Hockey trying to show what he stood for.[15]^{: 241–243}

On 17 April 2012, Hockey gave a speech at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London. He warned Australians that the time to become self-sufficient was at hand and that the government could not afford to give "universal payments" to Australians.[50] The speech was controversial in Australia,[15]^{: 244–248} sparking discussion on the ABC Lateline program[51] and an article in The Australian.[15]^{: 244–248} The speech was said to change the public's perception of Hockey from "avuncular" to "hard-head".[15]^{: 244–248} and foreshadowing Hockey's first budget.[15]^: 297

On 26 April 2012, Hockey gave a speech, "The Future of Australian Diversity", at the Islamic Council of Victoria. "To judge Islam based on the actions of extremists and terrorists would be no different than judging Christianity on the actions of those who have over the centuries committed atrocities in the name of Christianity."[52]

The Coalition won government at the 2013 election, and Hockey was named Treasurer.

In 2014, the "end of the age of entitlement" was used to justify the government refusing financial assistance to Holden in South Australia and SPC Ardmona in Victoria and explaining why they could not participate in Barnaby Joyce's proposal for a bail out of farmers.[53][54] Hockey's approach has been described by sociology lecturer Verity Archer as being like former US President Richard Nixon's, "using claims of a budget emergency" to cut welfare.[55]

In April 2014, Hockey faced criticism for saying "the poorest people either don't have cars, or actually don't drive very far" when seeking an increase in the fuel excise tax.[56][57]

In May 2014, Fairfax media published a story stating that political donors to the North Sydney Forum were able to have "VIP" meetings with Hockey, under the title "Treasurer for Sale".[58]

Hockey delivered the 2014 budget on 13 May 2014. The austere budget faced widespread criticism and was overwhelmingly rejected by the Australian public as reflected in all opinion polls after its release.[59][60][61] Michael Pascoe, writing for the Sydney Morning Herald, regards Hockey as being saddled with policies that were fiscally irresponsible, but designed to win support, giving as an example the scrapping of the price on carbon.[62] Hockey was considered by his colleagues to have made a poor case for the economic reforms in the 2014 budget.[57] The Guardian writes that criticism of the budget as "unfair" harmed Hockey's public image.[63]

After the February 2015 Liberal party leadership spill motion, there were calls for Hockey to be replaced as Treasurer.[63]

In the leadup to the 2015 budget, Abbott stated that no matter how the budget was received, Hockey would continue as Treasurer.[64] Hockey delivered the 2015 budget. This was considered a vast contrast to the 2014 budget.[57]

In June 2015, Hockey was criticised over his response to housing affordability issues, where he advised first home buyers to "get a good job that pays good money".[65]

In August 2015, Peter FitzSimons, chair of the Australian Republican Movement, announced that Joe Hockey would help lead a parliamentary friendship group aimed at a referendum on an Australian republic before 2020.[66] This led to criticism of Hockey by members of the Coalition, who regarded the renewed push for a republic to be a distraction from the government's priorities.[67] Later in August, a leak stated that two cabinet ministers were urging Abbott to reassign Hockey as treasurer.[68]

After Malcolm Turnbull ousted Abbott at the 2015 Liberal leadership spill, there was growing speculation that Turnbull would not retain Hockey as Treasurer in his new government, even though as mentioned above they are both members of the Liberal Party's moderate wing. Although Turnbull offered Hockey a different role in his government, Hockey declined[69] and on 20 September 2015 announced his intention to leave Parliament.[69][70] Hockey gave his final speech to parliament on 21 October 2015.[71]

Hockey resigned from parliament on 23 October 2015[72] which triggered the 2015 North Sydney by-election which was won by Trent Zimmerman.[3] It was announced on 8 December 2015 that Hockey would become the next Ambassador of Australia to the United States when Kim Beazley's term ended in early 2016.[5][6][7] In his new role as Ambassador, Hockey wrote a response to a New York Times editorial about cuts to climate change research at CSIRO.[73] In the first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency, Malcolm Turnbull and Trump had a phone conversation regarding the agreement for the US to take detained refugees from Manus Island that Turnbull had struck with Barack Obama. Trump described the deal as "dumb" on Twitter. Hockey met with Steve Bannon and Reince Priebus for discussions.[74]

Hockey's term as ambassador was extended for a year but ended on 30 January 2020, and was replaced as ambassador by former Liberal Party Senator Arthur Sinodinos the week after. His farewell party was held on 17 January 2020 in Washington, D.C., and was attended by Abbott and Australian golfer Greg Norman.[75]