An authorised biography, titled Hockey: Not Your Average Joe, contains detailed interviews with Mr Hockey, his colleagues and staff members.
Released by author and Fairfax columnist Madonna King today, it quotes sources as stating that the Treasurer’s controversial budget measures were not as strict as hoped.
“In reality, the budget was much softer than Joe would have liked,” it reads.
“He wanted changes to pensions made earlier and the deficit levy to net more taxpayers. But Abbott, who chaired each of the expenditure review committee meetings, was taking a much more cautious approach than his Treasurer, no doubt with one eye firmly on the reaction of voters.”
The book has been released in the absence of Mr Hockey, who is in New Zealand on official business.
Speaking last week, Mr Hockey threatened to find alternative savings if the Senate continues in efforts to block his budget.
"There are other alternatives that we can take," he said.
