Profile

Joe Hockey was born in North Sydney, as the youngest of four children.

His father was born in Bethlehem and his Mum in Chatswood.

His family worked hard running a small business in the local area, beginning with a deli in Chatswood and later, a real estate agency in Naremburn.

Joe was educated at St Aloysius' College in North Sydney and attended the University of Sydney where he achieved degrees in Arts and Law.

His enthusiasm for politics began as a young boy when Joe discovered that working with government for a meaningful cause could help bring about real change in a community.

His first victory came at the age of fourteen when he helped to obtain cricket nets for local children in Northbridge by petitioning the council.

At university, Joe became involved in student politics and was elected President of the Students Representative Council. He also held the position of President of the New South Wales Young Liberal Movement.

As a lawyer with a major Australian law firm, Joe cut his teeth on securitisation transactions and mergers and takeovers. He was seconded to the New South Wales Government to take a lead role in the state privatisation programme. He went on to become the Senior Policy Adviser to the Treasurer and then Director of Policy to the Premier of New South Wales.

He was elected the Member for North Sydney in 1996 and following his re-election in 1998, was made Minister for Financial Services and Regulation, one of the youngest ministers in the history of the Commonwealth.

After the 2001 election, Joe was appointed Minister for Small Business and Tourism where he delivered the first White Paper to drive the future direction of Australia’s tourism industry.

In October 2004, Joe was appointed the Minister for Human Services in the Fourth Howard Ministry and tasked with delivering a greater customer focus for the Australian Government’s major welfare and health services agencies.

In January 2007, Joe was appointed Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service. As Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Joe's focus was on creating more jobs and higher wages for Australians and  communicating how the changes to simpler and more flexible work arrangements can benefit workers and businesses.

Under the new leadership of the Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson, Joe Hockey has been appointed as the Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing and Leader of Opposition Business in the House.

Joe is patron of Mosman Orchestra and Cammeray and Northbridge Golf Clubs.  He is a proud member and supporter of the North Sydney Leagues Football Club, Rotary, UNICEF, Australian War Memorial, ANZAC Foundation, North Sydney ANZAC Memorial Club, Australian Conservation Foundation, World Vision (Asia Region) and Amnesty International.

Joe is married with two children and lives in Hunters Hill.