Taking tips from John Howard, Peter Dutton knows the barbecue stopper is key to shaping the national conversation | Julianne Schultz

Peter Dutton is the heir and successor of John Howard's successor.

Dutton has been refining his use of the barbecue stopper ever since he became opposition leader.

Howard used the summer holidays to reshape the national agenda for the following year , seeding ideas that would be discussed when family chat ran out.

But Dutton 's first foray into the barbecue conversation zone came in early January 2023 when he asked a series of questions about the voice referendum.

These would seem to me to be more interesting conversation starters than debating the charade of emptiness we are being encouraged to consider. Then again, you could just go to the (still free) beach and daydream..