Josh Frydenberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Josh Frydenberg
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Frydenberg in 2019
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| Treasurer of Australia | |
| In office 24 August 2018 – 23 May 2022 Serving with Scott Morrison (2021–2022)
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| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Scott Morrison |
| Succeeded by | Jim Chalmers |
| Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party | |
| In office 24 August 2018 – 30 May 2022 |
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| Leader | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Julie Bishop |
| Succeeded by | Sussan Ley |
| Minister for the Environment and Energy | |
| In office 19 July 2016 – 24 August 2018 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Greg Hunt |
| Succeeded by | Melissa Price (Environment) Angus Taylor (Energy) |
| Minister for Resources and Energy | |
| In office 21 September 2015 – 19 July 2016 |
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| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Gary Gray |
| Succeeded by | Matt Canavan |
| Assistant Treasurer of Australia | |
| In office 23 December 2014 – 21 September 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Arthur Sinodinos |
| Succeeded by | Kelly O'Dwyer |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Kooyong |
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| In office 21 August 2010 – 21 May 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Petro Georgiou |
| Succeeded by | Monique Ryan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joshua Anthony Frydenberg
17 July 1971 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Amie Saunders |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater |
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| Profession |
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Joshua Anthony Frydenberg (/ˈfraɪdənˌbɜːrɡ/) was born on 17 July 1971. He is an Australian former politician. He served as the Treasurer of Australia and deputy leader of the Liberal Party from 2018 to 2022. He was also a member of parliament (MP) for the area of Kooyong from 2010 to 2022.
After university, Frydenberg worked as an adviser to Prime Minister John Howard. He also advised Foreign Minister Alexander Downer. He then worked for Deutsche Bank before becoming a politician. He was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in the 2010 federal election.
He quickly became a minister, holding several roles from 2013 to 2018. These included Minister for Resources and Minister for the Environment and Energy. In August 2018, he became deputy leader of the Liberal Party. This happened after Scott Morrison became leader and Prime Minister. Morrison then made Frydenberg the Treasurer.
At the 2022 federal election, Frydenberg lost his seat. He was defeated by teal independent candidate Monique Ryan. He was the first sitting Treasurer to lose his seat since 1931. After leaving politics, he became chairman of the Australian branch of Goldman Sachs, an investment bank.
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Early Life and Education
Frydenberg was born in Melbourne, Australia. He went to Bialik and Mount Scopus Colleges. His mother, Erika Strausz, is a psychologist and professor. His father, Harry, is a surgeon. His mother was born in Hungary in 1943. She came to Australia in 1950 as a child refugee. She had escaped the Holocaust. His father's parents came to Australia from Poland in the 1930s.
As a child, Frydenberg loved tennis. He wanted to leave high school to play tennis full-time. His parents said no. He put a sign in his room that said: “the pain of discipline is far easier than the pain of regret". After high school, he took a year off to play tennis in Australia and Europe. He played against famous players like Mark Philippoussis and Pat Rafter. He also played for Australia at two World University Games.
Frydenberg studied economics and law at Monash University. He was the president of the Law Students Society there. After graduating, he worked at a law firm. He won scholarships to study at Yale University and the University of Oxford. He chose Oxford and earned a Master of International Relations. He also earned a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.
Early Career in Politics
In 1999, Frydenberg worked as an adviser to the Attorney-General. He then advised Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer until 2003. From 2003 to 2005, he was a policy adviser to Prime Minister John Howard. He focused on security, border protection, and industrial relations. In 2005, he started working for Deutsche Bank in Melbourne.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 2006, Frydenberg wanted to become the Liberal Party candidate for Kooyong. This was a safe Liberal area in Melbourne. The current member, Petro Georgiou, had held the seat since 1994. Georgiou won the party vote that time.
After Georgiou announced he would retire, Frydenberg tried again. He won the party vote to become the candidate for Kooyong. Former Prime Minister John Howard supported him.
Life as a Member of Parliament
Georgiou retired before the 2010 federal election. Frydenberg won the seat of Kooyong. He was only the fifth person to represent this seat in 88 years. The seat was once held by Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister, Robert Menzies.
Frydenberg was the first Jewish Liberal elected to the House of Representatives. In his first speech, he spoke about his family's journey to Australia. His grandparents and great-aunt came from Europe to escape the Nazis. He also talked about how migrants help communities. He believed in small government and stronger ties with Asia.
Working in Government
At the 2013 federal election, Frydenberg was re-elected. He became a Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister. His job was to help reduce government rules. In December 2014, he became the Assistant Treasurer.
In September 2015, Malcolm Turnbull became Prime Minister. Frydenberg was then made Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia. In 2015, he changed his view and publicly supported same-sex marriage.
After the 2016 election, Frydenberg became the Minister for the Environment and Energy.
Treasurer of Australia
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In August 2018, the Liberal Party changed its leader. Scott Morrison became Prime Minister. Julie Bishop stepped down as deputy leader. Frydenberg was elected as the new deputy leader. Morrison then announced that Frydenberg would become the new Treasurer.
At the 2019 federal election, Frydenberg kept his seat of Kooyong. He faced a strong challenge from Greens candidate Julian Burnside. The Liberal Party spent more money on the campaign in Kooyong. Frydenberg won, but with a smaller majority.
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In the lead-up to the 2022 election, Frydenberg's seat faced another big challenge. Independent candidate Monique Ryan was part of the "teal independent" movement. On 21 May, Frydenberg lost his seat to Ryan. He accepted his defeat two days later. This was the first time the seat of Kooyong was not held by the Liberal Party since 1901.
Frydenberg had a close working relationship with Prime Minister Morrison. He often stayed at the Prime Minister's official residences, Kirribilli and The Lodge, when in Canberra for Parliament.
Frydenberg presented his first federal budget in April 2019.
Life After Politics
In July 2022, Frydenberg joined the investment bank Goldman Sachs. He became a senior adviser for the Asia Pacific region. In September 2023, he was made chairman of Goldman Sachs' operations in Australia and New Zealand. This decision meant he would not try to win back his old seat in the 2025 election.
In May 2024, Frydenberg explored the rise of antisemitism in a Sky News Australia documentary. It was called Never Again: The Fight Against Antisemitism.
Personal Life
Frydenberg is married and has two children.
He supports the Carlton Football Club, an Australian rules football team. He was the club's number-one ticket holder in 2021 and 2022. In 2019, he was also the Melbourne Storm's number-one ticket holder, a rugby league team.
See also
- List of Jewish members of Australian parliaments
