The opening line of the credits reads 'For Michael 1960 -1997', referring to Michael Hutchence, a close friend of director Lowenstein.
Sam's comment, "... the recession we had to have ...", is a quote from former Australian treasurer, Paul Keating, Keating famously referred to the early 1990s recession in Australia as "the recession we had to have". Keating's statement caused much comment in Australia and cost the then Labor government much support. The quote has since been parodied in Australia in many different situations.