This was published 4 months ago
Opinion
Virtually good value: A jolly Joe Hockey gig costs $20,000 a pop
By Stephen Brook and Kishor Napier-Raman
It’s been a decade since Joe Hockey delivered his infamous 2014 federal budget, toasting Australians as a nation of “lifters, not leaners” after puffing – prematurely – on a victory cigar outside the Treasury building with finance minister bro Mathias Cormann.
Ever since then, the man whose schoolboy ambition was to be prime minister has stayed true to that “up-by-the-bootstraps” mantra. After leaving politics following the Abbott government’s implosion, Hockey lifted his bootstraps all the way to a job as ambassador to the United States.
Joe Hockey gives good chat. Credit: Peter Rae
Now based in Washington DC, where business is booming for his strategic advisory firm Bondi Partners, Hockey has plenty of wisdom to divulge about the corridors of power.
But those insights don’t come cheap. According to a PR email obtained by CBD, the former treasurer, who once declared that the “age of entitlement” was over, commands a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000 for a virtual speech. It’ll cost more to get the man in the room, subject to negotiation and well, a travel budget, because the States is a long-haul flight away.
According to the keynotes, Hockey is ready to weigh in on “the meaning of leadership” and his “front row seat to the chaos” of the Trump administration. Sure to be a seller for anyone after Hockey’s hot-takes on the upcoming US presidential election.
Then-finance minister Mathias Cormann (left) and then-treasurer Joe Hockey enjoy their cigars in 2014.
“Hockey’s philosophy on navigating the challenges that come with leadership is to stay true to your values because when faced with disappointment you will be able to rest knowing your actions were authentic to who you are,” the email said.
Even Hockey seemed taken aback at just how much his time is worth when contacted by CBD on Tuesday, but said the email must’ve been sent around by his celebrity agent Nick Fordham.
Maybe Fordo is just a little too zealous when setting his client fees.
Principled food on a budget
Tuesday’s Victorian state budget lock-up was memorable for two things. Treasurer Tim Pallas’ spray against Melbourne Airport and the extraordinary food on offer. The four-hour lock-up commenced with a star turn by Premier Jacinta Allan, who pressed the flesh of favoured journalists just as her predecessor Daniel Andrews had done. And then departed.
Only then did Pallas build up a head of steam when asked about the Melbourne Airport rail link which, to the surprise of none, was delayed a further four years.
Pallas was scathing about the airport, which he described as “a really good carpark operator” he hoped would become a good corporate citizen “at some point”. That battle over the airport trying to build its train station underground clearly rankles.
“Quite frankly we are not paying for undergrounding an asset to effectively line the asset base of the concessionaire,” Pallas said. “Were the airport operator to see reason and maybe become a good corporate citizen at some point instead of a really good car park operator then perhaps we might be able to move those things forward.”
Them’s fighting words, but it was the almost totally gluten-free and vegetarian menu that had the hacks talking.
Traditional sangers were out. In their place, gluten-free frittata with roasted vegetable and ricotta frittata of corn and bacon, marking a rare appearance of actual meat. A gluten-free superfood salad of quinoa, edamame, brown rice and kale and a gluten-free rocket, pear and parmesan salad came with a warning that the dressing “may contain alcohol”.
This was too much for one seasoned hack who mimed glugging the jug of dressing as she returned to the drudgery of dissecting the budget papers.
Pratty in pink
In the pink: But did Anthony’s Pratt’s rosy Met show meet Anna’s approval?Credit: John Shakespeare
Money can buy you everything, but not always taste. So Met Gala attendees learnt on Tuesday when a hot pink streak made his way up the Baz Luhrmann-designed “garden of time” floral display to be greeted by US Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour for his allotted 30-second chat.
Billionaire box baron Anthony Pratt, we salute you.
The cardboard king rich lister, worth $24.30 billion with his family, wore a hot-pink frock coat embroidered with “Pratt 100% Recycled” decals, more usually seen on his Visy and Pratt Industries’ cardboard boxes.
Talk about wearing your corporate heart (if not your company manifesto) on your sleeve.
The theme of rebirth was clearly evident in his “propagating seedlings in the garden shed” Balenciaga shoes. The tan sensible sneakers completed the ensemble and the vibe was 100 per cent Willy Wonka meets LGBTQ Pride. The future’s so bright we are going to need to wear shades!
Anthony Pratt at The 2024 Met Gala.Credit: Getty Images
Pratt’s fashion wattage comfortably eclipsed more famous Aussie celebs, such as a heavily reworked Nicole Kidman who was classic in a couture Balenciaga 1950s homage and Chris Hemsworth’s cream Tom Ford suit, which was positively dullsville in comparison.
A comparison with Pratt’s outfit last year’s reveals a man with growing confidence in his convictions.
Pratt, who once claimed “being rich is my superpower” in explaining his close ties to former US president Donald Trump, has clearly arrived in the US celebrity ecosystem. All Gala attendees must be personally invited by Wintour, and that is before they need to shell out the required $US75,000 ($113,000) per ticket.
Pratt was last in the headlines back in his Melbourne hometown in February when he shelled out about $1.5 million to invite US singer Katy Perry to his Raheen mansion for a food and beverage industry knees-up attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.