On the eve of the 1980 Australian federal election, reporter Neil Roberts interviewed a range of politicians, and got the lowdown from a certain Dr Fred Dagg (John Clarke). Over a wall of beer cans, Clarke — who leaves his famous black singlet at home — delivers pithy observations on the key political players. Roberts describes the economic climate of 1980 Australia, as mining fuels economic hopes despite high unemployment. Meanwhile Clarke paints character portraits of Labor leader Bill Hayden and rising star Bob Hawke; he calls Treasurer John Howard a numbers man who never crosses into rationality.