His plays deal sympathetically and insightfully with mainly lower-class Australians. Two exceptions concern his time at Riverview: "St. James Infirmary Blues" (he subsequently dropped 'Blues' from the title), and a teleplay for the ABC; in addition, his unproduced and unpublished play, "Harper's Hill", deals with the sort of prosperous Hunter Region people among whom he was raised, though significantly distanced by time (the play is set in the early 20th century). He had a great ease with, and love of, words, which made him an outstanding lyricist – a talent he tended to deprecate.