Former Australian politician Joe Hockey has reportedly separated from his wife, Melissa Babbage, after 31 years of marriage.
Hockey, 60, served as treasurer in the federal Liberal government from 2013 to 2015, and later as Australia’s ambassador to the US from 2016 to 2020.
Tipped during his time in politics as a possible Liberal leader, Hockey married Babbage, 59, a high-flying businesswoman and millionaire, in 1994.
According to Confidential, Hockey recently left the couple’s lavish property in Hunters Hill and moved into a flat in Milsons Point on Sydney’s northern harbour.
The pair, who share three children, did not confirm or deny the reported split, telling the publication they had ‘no comment’.
Babbage, who is currently head of finance and operations at investment firm Bondi Global Partners, a company founded by Hockey, is reportedly still living in the marital home.
Former Australian politician Joe Hockey has reportedly separated from his wife, Melissa Babbage, after 31 years of marriage. Pictured: Babbage and Hockey seen in 2019
Hockey met Babbage at a Young Liberals event in Sydney in 1991. They married three years later.
They welcomed son Xavier, 20, in 2005, followed by a daughter, Adelaide, 18, two years later.
Babbage gave birth to their third child, another son, Ignatius, in 2009, while she was head of foreign exchange and global finance for Deutsche Bank.
Hockey became a ‘celebrity pollie’ in the lead-up to the 2007 federal election when he became a regular on Seven’s Sunrise.
His ‘debates’ with Kevin Rudd, later Prime Minister, were a ratings winner for the breakfast show.
Before entering the financial world, Babbage, a former athlete, worked as a physiotherapist for the Sydney Swans.
A top-rated track and field competitor, Babbage tried out for the 1988 Olympics in the 400m sprint.
Babbage and Hockey acquired a large property portfolio worth an estimated $10million in their time together, including a cattle station in North Queensland.
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According to Confidential, Hockey recently left the couple’s lavish digs in Hunters Hill and moved into a flat in Milson’s Point, on Sydney’s northern harbour. Pictured: Hockey and Babbage in 2020 while the former Liberal heavyweight was Australia’s Ambassador to the US
Tipped during his time in politics as a possible Liberal leader, Hockey married Babbage, 59, a high-flying businesswoman and millionaire, in 1994. Pictured: Babbage with the children she shares with Hockey, Xavier, Ignatius, and Adelaide, in 2015
It was later listed for sale for $1.5million in 2015.
Their portfolio also included a getaway home in Stanwell Tops, south of Sydney.
At one time, the pair were juggling two neighbouring mansions in upscale Hunters Hill.
Their first home in the ritzy suburb, known as Te Roma, was bought under Babbage’s name in 2004 for $3.5million.
Before they had time to pay it off, they snapped up a 19th-century spread, ‘Wybalena House’ for $7.815million in 2018.
The pair later sold Te Roma for $8million.
Hockey and Babbage attracted criticism for their high-flying lifestyle while the Liberal power player was in politics.
In 2010, it was reported that Hockey had previously insisted that while his opponents might run the ‘wealthy line’, the money really belongs to his wife.
But Hockey’s life hasn’t been one you would typically associate with struggle. The treasurer, who was pictured enjoying a cigar outside parliament after announcing his federal budget in May, attended the elite St Aloysius’ College in Milsons Point.
When he left home for university, he attended one of the country’s most expensive university residences, St John’s College at the University of Sydney, a popular institution for Sydney’s private school educated children.
It was at Sydney University that he got his start in politics when he was elected as the president of the Student Representative Council.
Hockey retired from politics in 2015.
