Who is he?
Hawke has been the Liberal member for the western Sydney electorate of Mitchell since 2007. The 43-year-old grew up in the area,attending Cumberland High before taking on an arts degree at Sydney University.
He joined both the Liberal Party and the Army Reserves as a teenager in 1995. In 2000 he left the Reserves – having achieved the rank of lieutenant – but remained a loyal lieutenant in the Liberals,working for a series of state politicians and then federal minister Helen Coonan.
After winning the seat as the Howard reign ended,Hawke’s frontbench career began in 2015,once Malcolm Turnbull became prime minister. He’s spent time as a junior minister in the Treasury,immigration,home affairs,defence and foreign affairs portfolios as well as seven months as special minister of state in charge of the electoral system and politicians’ expenses.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison appointed Hawke the Minister for Immigration,Citizenship,Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs in last December’s reshuffle.
What does he do?
Hawke is perhaps better known as a factional powerbroker for the centre-right of the NSW Liberal Party than he is as Immigration Minister.