What are Australia's 'barbecue stopper' conversations right now? What are the things we talk and worry about? the 2009 ABC Boyer Lecturer is our best-known military officer, General Peter Cosgrove - an Australian Everyman whose interests are our own. As a father, General Cosgrove is concerned about the world we will leave to future generations. As a proud Australian, he is interested in how migration changed our sense of national identity. As an ex-soldier his life was about guaranteeing our national security. And as a leader, he is interested in accountability and integrity, and how the ability to build a team and communicate ideas makes for successful leadership. touching on such pressing issues as climate change, the debate about a republic and a Bill of Rights, refugees, assimilation, and our relationship with our neighbours in the Pacific, Indonesia and the great power of the United States and China, General Cosgrove engages us with insight and experience in A VERY AUStRALIAN CONVERSAtION.