Death Threats, Politics & Handling Pressure | Hon John Sharp AM Ep 10

In this episode, I sit down with The Hon John Sharp AM, former Federal Minister for the seat of Hume and Deputy Leader of the National Party. John served in federal parliament for over two decades, playing a central role in some of Australia's most significant political battles — including the landmark 1998 waterfront reforms that reshaped the nation's industrial landscape.We talk about what it actually costs to lead under pressure — death threats, public scrutiny, and the weight of decisions that affect millions of people. John shares how a lifelong commitment to fitness has been his anchor through it all, and what he's observed about the long-term price of leadership on the men and women who serve.This is a conversation about resilience, pressure, and what it means to stay the course when the stakes are as high as they get.Chapters00:00 Waterfront Reforms05:39 The personal cost of fighting the unions10:42 The effect of the waterfront on the Australian economy12:25 Re-opening the East-West Runway18:35 How to deal with immense pressure21:55 The importance of maintaining physical fitness24:41 Maintaining fitness through life29:26 The transition from politics to corporate life38:11 The move to EADS43:59 Regional Express43:32 The move from regional airline to domestic airline58:49 The downfall of REX domestic01:05:23 The immense pressure of a public case01:09:07 Sage advice for young people