Comparisons were drawn with the 1975 by-election in the Tasmanian electorate of Bass: both had resulted from the resignation of a Defence Minister (former Labor Deputy Prime Minister Lance Barnard in 1975). Labor's landslide loss in Bass was linked to the defeat of the Whitlam government several months later.Oakes, Laurie: All aboard the Ryan express, The Bulletin, 7 March 2001.
