Politics

Joe Hockey trolled after complaining about rental car queue at airport

Jul 25, 2018

Former Liberal Party member Joe Hockey took to Twitter to share his grievances over waiting for a rental car. Source: Getty

Joe Hockey, the man who once told Australia the age of entitlement was over, has been slammed online after he complained on Twitter about the long queue for a rental car.

The former federal treasurer took to Twitter on Wednesday to share his frustration over the queue at a Boston airport, urging people not to rent with car company Hertz because the wait time was “a joke”.

But instead of garnering sympathy from his 188,000 followers, he was trolled for complaining about such a trivial matter when everyday Aussies are doing it tough.

Dozens of people had a dig at the now Australian Ambassador to the United States, making references to his major cuts to welfare during his time as treasurer and privileged life as a diplomat.

“Thanks for the tip Joe if I’m ever on a Tax Payer funded overseas trip I’ll remember that,” one person joked.

“Try lining up in a Centrelink or Medicare branch after you gutted DHS,” another commented. A third person added: “Queuing is beneath Joe. I suppose he did visit the local Centrelink offices when he did his part in shutting down the Australian car manufacturing industry.”

While another asked: “Would you like some cheese with that whine?”

“C’mon mate – this is how us unwashed voters live. No COMCAR specials for us taxpayers mate,” one man wrote.

Here is a travel tip… never ever rent @Hertz at Boston Airport.1 person serving 20 people at 12.49AM in the morning. What a bad bad joke. And it takes forever to get a shuttle bus to the rental cars.

— Joe Hockey (@JoeHockey) July 25, 2018

Hockey did eventually find some sympathy from the Hertz team, which replied to his complaint: “I apologize Joe, we have notified the management team”.

Now waiting in a @Hertz queue longer wait than some flights to get to Boston!!!

— Joe Hockey (@JoeHockey) July 25, 2018

The millionaire former politician is currently residing in the lavish heritage-listed 1940s-era Ambassador’s Residence in Washington DC with his self-made millionaire wife, Melissa Baddage and their three children.

He famously declared the “age of entitlement is over” during his stint as treasurer, and has drawn the ire of taxpayers multiple times since taking on his ambassadorship, most recently after using taxpayer dollars to fund several boozy events and pay for babysitters for his children.

According to figures obtained by the Herald Sun, Hockey claimed almost AU$70,000 in expenses between July and December last year to cover ‘entertainment’ costs, with the Australian public footing the bill for flowers, booze, childcare services and even his laundry.