Joe Hockey on career plans, the new normal and Donald Trump

Joe Hockey will remain in Washington to work in the private sector once his four-year term as Australian ambassador ends.

Joe Hockey plans to remain in Washington after his ambassadorship ends. Picture: Supplied

Joe Hockey’s term as Australian Ambassador to America is about to end, but he will remain in Washington to work in the private sector.

Mr Hockey says he plans to stay in America for several years and wants to continue working in the US.

Mr Hockey did not confirm his new role, but did say it would involve “infrastructure, strategic directions, world affairs”, Nine Newspapers reported on Friday .

“This is the modern Rome,” Mr Hockey said of the US capital. “We’re going through a tumultuous period and I want to be in the thick of it.”

Mr Hockey also said Australia should expect Donald Trump’s protectionist approach to trade, defence and commerce to hold firm even if he is not re-elected at the November election.

“Any business in Australia that operates with blind indifference to what’s happening in Washington is going to suffer in one form or another. From cyber security laws to cross-border taxation to punitive trade measures, it’s all changed and it’s not going to go back anytime soon,” Mr Hockey said.

The Australian reported in November that Mr Hockey planned to take up a part-time position as a guest lecturer on public policy and politics and the American University.

“We are not going back,” he said.

Joe Hockey and US President Donald Trump.

Mr Hockey told Nine that Australia will not be able to rely on its longstanding relationship with America and would need to actively work hard to maintain strong relationships with US leaders.

Mr Hockey also said that Mr Trump’s trade policies would challenge America’s position as the global economic superpower if the country continued not to promote the free flow of goods and services internationally.

He said while Mr Trump’s partial trade deal with China was positive, it wasn’t “momentous” as the US President claimed. “It’s written on rice paper: anyone can tear it up at any moment,” he said. “If it’s just about purchasing more goods then that’s not a solution. It has to be structural.”

On the up coming US presidential election, Mr Hockey tipped Michael Bloomberg to be nominated as the democratic candidate but predicted Mr Trump would win another term.

Joe Hockey at the hockey.

Mr Hockey is set to be farewelled by the who’s who of Washington and Australian politics at a party on Saturday before his term finishes next week.

The Australian revealed this week that the 400-strong guest list will include Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner and Mr Trump’s acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney.

Mr Trump will personally farewell Mr Hockey at the Oval Office – he was invited to the party but could not attend.

Mr Hockey was widely praised for his role in maintaining a strong relationship with Mr Trump during his four-year term as ambassador, smoothing over relations including when the angry phone call between Mr Trump and then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull over the refugee deal in early 2017 became heated.