When this film screened at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1977, a glossary of terms of Australian idioms was produced to assist audiences to understand the Australian colloquialisms and slang.
Barry Crocker was originally cast as Don Henderson. Crocker had recently worked with this film's director Bruce Beresford in The Adventures of Barry McKenzie (1972) and Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (1974). The day before principal photography began, Crocker broke his back whilst in the garden, was hospitalized and had to withdraw from the film. Crocker was replaced with actor John Hargreaves. Hargreaves had originally wanted to play Cooley in this film, a part which was cast with Harold Hopkins.
Actor Graeme Blundell was cast against type playing the repressed conservative character of Simon. Blundell had recently become famous for playing the raunchy ladies man Alvin Purple in Alvin Purple (1973) and Alvin Rides Again (1974).
Due to rain and bad weather, tarpaulins were hung over the roof of the house to block out sound problems due to transient noise.
Actor John Hargreaves had part of his head shaved along with a few other make-up touches in order to look the right middle-age of his character Don Henderson. Hargreaves was still young at the time and had originally wanted to play the much younger character Cooley.
John Gorton: The former Prime Minister of Australia (1968-1971) as himself. The film is set during Australia's Election Night 1969 so Gorton in the film is the present Prime Minister for the time in which the movie is set.