In this episode of Straight Talk, I sit down with former Prime Minister John Howard — Australia’s second-longest-serving PM — for an unfiltered conversation about leadership, politics, and the lessons that shaped his life.

We start from the beginning: his early years in Earlwood, his education and early professional life, and how his interest in politics led him from a legal career into public office. John reflects on his early parliamentary years, his challenges as Treasurer, and the tax reforms that changed the nation.

We discuss the introduction of the GST, his gun law reforms, and his relationships with world leaders, before turning to the media’s influence, recent election outcomes, and the state of leadership today.

In classic Howard style, he opens up about stability in government, Australia’s immigration policy, and his personal passions — from sport to family life.

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