Hockey: Not Your Average Joe (30 page)

Joe has held many portfolios as a Commonwealth minister. Here, he is being sworn in as minister for human services by Governor-General Michael Jeffery at Yarralumla in Canberra, 2004. (Courtesy Michael Jones/Auspic)

Joe at Parliamentary rugby training with friend Matt Hingerty in 2003. Hingerty served as chief-of-staff while Joe was tourism minister. In the background, you can spot former ALP Minister Dr Craig Emerson (back left) and Liberal MP Bob Baldwin. (Courtesy Mark Graham/Newspix)

Joe and Tony Abbott at Portia’s Place, a restaurant in Canberra in 2004, where they would eat regularly during Parliamentary sitting weeks. These evenings provide the basis for their ongoing work relationship. Colleagues Christopher Pyne and Ross Cameron often shared the table, too. (Courtesy Ray Strange/Newspix)

In 2003 Joe and Melissa bought a farm just outside Malanda in Far North Queensland, where the family would escape to a few times each year. Not afraid to get his hands dirty, Joe enjoyed the outlet that physical work provided. In 2014, while preparing the federal Budget, he put part of it up for sale.

Joe and Matt Hingerty experience a camel ride at Ayers Rock in July 2004. The trip was instigated by Andrew Burnes and took them to Uluru, the Kimberley and Broome.

Joe Hockey and good friend Andrew Burnes take a breather on the ten day walk along the Kokoda Track in April 2006. David Koch from Channel Seven’s
Sunrise
and Kevin Rudd were also part of the group. (Courtesy Brian Freeman/Centori)

Joe takes to the podium in the House of Representatives in 2007, with prime minister John Howard, Mark Vaile and Peter Costello looking on. He has always been a strong parliamentary performer, loving the war of words that dominates Question Time. His passion for speaking came from being dragged along to speech lessons with his big sister, Juanita. (Courtesy Michael Jones/Auspic)

Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro came from an idea to raise money for medical equipment. Joe encouraged others to join him on the 5895 metre climb to the top, where he buried an ultrasound of his youngest son. When this photo was taken it was -0.15 degrees Celsius, and 50 minutes climb from the peak. Brian Freeman led the expedition. (Courtesy Brian Freeman/Centori)

Upon arrival at the Four Seasons hotel in Sydney, after the Coalition seized victory in 2013, Joe walked across the room and he and new Prime Minister Tony Abbott hugged, without saying a word. Senior staffer, Andrew Hirst, watches on.

With three children under ten the Hockey household is a busy one. Joe and Melissa with their children, Xavier, Adelaide and Ignatius, in the grounds of Yarralumla in Canberra, after Joe was sworn in as Treasurer in 2013.

Joe’s friends – the Balmoral touch footy crew – commemorate his appointment as treasurer by giving him a giant calculator. Pictured from left to right (front): Paul Harrington, Martjin Wilder, Gordon Alexander (kneeling), Joe Hockey, Peter FitzSimons; (back) Bob St. Julian, Dave Kerslake, David Cook, Mick McCleary, Dave Eyles.

TV and radio personality Ben Fordham teaches Joe how to take a selfie during the one-day match between Australia and England at the SCG in January 2014.