The result was touted as a "surprise" victory that the party had not expected to win, with voter concern over Liberal proposals around Medicare (in Woods' portfolio) and the future of the Sydney Airport curfew and a campaign having reportedly been significant.
[12][13][14] A devout Catholic, in 1994 she jointly drafted a petition of MPs protesting the ABC broadcast of highlights of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
[22][23][24] By January 1996, amidst poor Labor polling statewide, media reports suggested that she would struggle to hold her seat, with clashing policies over airport noise emerging as a key campaign issue.
[40] In 2003, she stood as a candidate for national president of the Labor Party, having been nominated by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie with support from the NSW Right; however, she was unsuccessful.
[43] In 2016, Easson's lobbying activities drew attention due to Probity International's work for Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit at the same time as Easson had emerged an influential pro-Israel voice within the party's debates over policy on Israel-Palestine and as a member of the Australia Israel Labor Dialogue, which was funding trips for MPs to Israel to support their platform.
She denied that Elbit had donated to AILD, but was met with criticism from opposing Labor MPs: Bob Carr stated that any connection to Elbit was "a shameful look — arms dealers, civilian deaths, the electronic fence" and called for transparency as to their fundraising, while Melissa Parke said of the situation: "it is a concern not to know who is providing the funds, particularly where there is a person associated with an Israeli weapons manufacturer on the AILD committee".