MFA Press Statement: Visit of the Honourable Joe Hockey, Member for North Sydney and Shadow Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia (13-18 Oct 2012)

The Honourable Joe Hockey, Member for North Sydney and Shadow Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia will visit Singapore as the 37th Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow (LKYEF) from 13-18 October 2012.  Mr Hockey is the third Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow from Australia.  He will be accompanied by his wife, Ms Melissa Babbage. 

Mr Hockey has held various ministerial appointments in the Australian government, including Minister for Financial Services and Regulation, Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Minister for Human Services, as well as Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. 

Mr Hockey will call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, and be hosted to lunch by Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Grace Fu.  Mr Eddie Teo, Chairman of the LKYEF, will host a welcome dinner for Mr Hockey.  Mr Hockey will meet Members of Parliament and attend a Meet-the-People session, as well as receive briefings by the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Central Provident Fund and the Monetary Authority of Singapore.   

Established in 1991, the LKYEF programme invites outstanding individuals for high-level exchange visits to Singapore.  The Fellows are chosen on the basis of their proven track records or extraordinary potential to contribute to the development of their nations, as well as promote international understanding and goodwill. 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

12 OCTOBER 2012