Brendan Nelson has taken John Howard’s old metaphor of a “barbecue stopper” (i.e. a topic which ordinary plebeians talk and form opinions about during the course of their ordinary and plebeian lives) and moved it from the backyard to the local public bar — possibly reflecting the fact that John Howard has never been inside a pub.

Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson says he has not lost control of his party despite two of his backbenchers taking leave to work as lobbyists overseas.

[...]

“I have said to Mark Vaile that while he hasn’t technically done anything wrong it wouldn’t pass the pub test in any part of Australia, certainly not in my electorate,” he said.
(source)

Intrigued about this new “pub test” GrodsCorp hit the road and asked public bar punters to pass judgement on some current political topics.

Q1: What do you think about Friday sittings of Parliament and the government caving into opposition demands and scrapping them?

A: “Fuck off. We’re reading the paper.”

Q2: What do you think about the $2.6 billion dollar compensation payout received by Cornelia Rau?

A: “Whoa! You look all funny, dude!”

Q3: How do you feel about Labor abolishing the carers’ allowance?

A: “Do you want to come home with me?”

Q4: Do you think that the latest interest rate rise will be enough to tackle inflation?

A: “Do you want to come home with us?”

Q5: Do you think that ex-Liberal ministers who are planning to resign should do it as soon as possible?

A: “Fuck, I could go some salt and vinegar chips right now.”