| The Honourable John Sharp |
|
|---|---|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Gilmore |
|
| In office 1 December 1984 – 13 March 1993 |
|
| Preceded by | New seat |
| Succeeded by | Peter Knott |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Hume |
|
| In office 13 March 1993 – 31 August 1998 |
|
| Preceded by | Wal Fife |
| Succeeded by | Alby Schultz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 December 1954 Sydney |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | National Party of Australia |
| Occupation | Farmer |
John Randall Sharp (born 15 December 1954), Australian politician, is a former National Party member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the Divisions of Gilmore and Hume in New South Wales.
He became Minister for Transport and Regional Development when the Coalition government under John Howard took office after the 1996 federal election.
Sharp resigned from the ministry on 24 September 1997 after becoming involved in a scandal over misuse of parliamentary travel allowances.[1] The "Travel Rorts Affair" – which also claimed the ministerial careers of Peter McGauran and David Jull – unfolded when an audit of parliamentary expense claims revealed that a number of MPs had fraudulently or inadvertently submitted incorrect travel claims.[2] He retired from Parliament on 31 August 1998, prior to the 1998 election.
After retiring from politics, Sharp founded a transport consultancy company, and became deputy chairman of Regional Express Airlines.[3]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Laurie Brereton (Transport) Brian Howe (Regional Development) |
Minister for Transport and Regional Development 1996–97 |
Succeeded by Mark Vaile |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
| New division | Member for Gilmore 1984–93 |
Succeeded by Peter Knott |
| Preceded by Wal Fife |
Member for Hume 1993–98 |
Succeeded by Alby Schultz |