Tom Hughes (Australian politician)

Thomas Eyre Forrest Hughes AO QC (born 26 November 1923) is a former Australian politician and a prominent barrister practising at Blackstone Chambers in Sydney, who served as the 19th Attorney-General of Australia from 1969 to 1971. He was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1963 to 1972, representing first the seat of Parkes and then (when Parkes was abolished in 1969) the seat of Berowra. He is the last surviving member of the Second Gorton Ministry (1969-1971) from the Liberal Party, along with Andrew Peacock.

This article is about the Australian politician. For other men with this name, see Thomas Hughes (disambiguation).

The Honourable Tom Hughes AO QC
Attorney-General for Australia
In office 12 November 1969 – 22 March 1971
Prime Minister	John Gorton William McMahon
Preceded by	Nigel Bowen
Succeeded by	Nigel Bowen
Member of the Australian Parliament for Parkes
In office 30 November 1963 – 25 October 1969
Preceded by	Les Haylen
Succeeded by	Division abolished
Member of the Australian Parliament for Berowra
In office 25 October 1969 – 2 November 1972
Preceded by	Division created
Succeeded by	Harry Edwards
Personal details
Born	Thomas Eyre Forrest Hughes (1923-11-26) 26 November 1923 Sydney, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Joanna Fitzgerald ​ ( m. 1951; div. 1972) Christine Abel Smith ( m. 1981)
Children	3, including Lucy
Parents	Geoffrey Forrest Hughes Margaret Vidal
Relatives	Thomas Hughes (grandfather) Robert Hughes (brother) See Hughes family
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Profession	Lawyer Politician

Early life and education

Born in South Sydney, Hughes was the son of lawyer and aviator Geoffrey Forrest Hughes. His brother was the writer and critic Robert Hughes. His grandfather and great-uncle were members of the New South Wales Legislative Council. He was educated at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview, and the University of Sydney,[1] where he graduated in law. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force in World War II and was awarded the French Légion d'honneur in 2005 for his courage while flying planes in the Invasion of Normandy.[2] He was called to the New South Wales bar in 1949, becoming a QC in 1962.

Politics

Hughes in 1964.

Hughes defeated the long-serving Labor member Les Haylen to unexpectedly win the seat of Parkes at the 1963 elections. He was attorney-general in the government of John Gorton, but was dropped from the ministry by William McMahon,[1] and the disillusionment this caused led him to retire at the 1972 election.

Later legal career

After leaving politics he became one of the leading figures at the Sydney bar, and was president of the New South Wales Bar Association between 1973 and 1975. He was formerly engaged in full-time practice as a member of Sydney's Blackstone Chambers, and is the most senior member of the NSW Bar.[3]

In 2002, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Hughes was still working full-time at the age of 78, as one of only two active barristers admitted to the New South Wales bar in the 1940s.[1]

Personal life

In 1951 Hughes married Joanna Fitzgerald, a niece of the poet R. D. Fitzgerald. The couple had three children together – Lucy, Tom Jr. and Michael.[1] Lucy served as Lord Mayor of Sydney (2000–2002) and married Malcolm Turnbull, who became prime minister of Australia (2015–2018). Tom followed his father into the legal profession, often serving as his junior.[1] Michael became a stockbroker and business executive, also holding senior office in the Liberal Party's organisational wing.[4]

Hughes and his first wife divorced in 1972.[5] He subsequently proposed marriage to actress Kate Fitzpatrick, who turned him down. He re-married in 1981 to Chrissie Abel Smith (née Taylor), at a ceremony officiated by Ted Noffs.[1]

Hughes was raised Catholic. He left the church for a period due to disagreements with its social policies, but rejoined in the early 1990s.[1]

Honours

	Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)	1988 for services to the legal profession[6]
	1939–45 Star
	France and Germany Star
	War Medal 1939–1945
	Australia Service Medal 1939–45
	Centenary Medal	2001 [7]
	Chevalier of the Legion of Honour	(France) 2005[2]

References

1. "The old silk road". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 June 2002. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
2. ABC (2008). PM – Australian vets honoured with French Legion of Honour. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
3. "Blackstone Chambers Barristers - The Hon. Thomas Hughes AO QC". Findmypast. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
4. Clennell, Andrew (4 July 2018). "Turnbull's brother-in-law Michael Hughes hunts NSW Liberal donors". The Weekend Australian. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
5. Blackshield, Tony (1 July 2016). "Contradictory counsel". Inside Story. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
6. It's An Honour (2008). HUGHES, Thomas Eyre Forrest. Retrieved 31 May 2008.
7. It's An Honour (2008). HUGHES, Thomas Eyre. Retrieved 31 May 2008.

Political offices
Preceded by Nigel Bowen	Attorney-General 1969–1971	Succeeded by Nigel Bowen
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Les Haylen	Member for Parkes 1963–1969	Succeeded by Abolished
Preceded by New division	Member for Berowra 1969–1972	Succeeded by Harry Edwards