Tom Hughes (Australian politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Tom Hughes AO KC
Hughes in 1969
Attorney-General of 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 Rose Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Died	28 November 2024(2024-11-28) (aged 101)
Political party	Liberal
Spouses	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) Malcolm Turnbull (son-in-law) See Hughes family
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Profession	Lawyer Politician

Thomas Eyre Forrest Hughes (26 November 1923 – 28 November 2024) was an important Australian lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party. He worked as the Attorney-General for Australia from 1969 to 1971. He was also a member of the House of Representatives from 1963 to 1972. He represented areas in New South Wales called Parkes and Berowra. Thomas Hughes was also a leader of the New South Wales Bar Association, which is a group for lawyers. He was known as one of Sydney's top lawyers for many years.

Early Life and School

Thomas Hughes was born on 26 November 1923 in Rose Bay, New South Wales. He was one of four children. His father, Geoffrey Forrest Hughes, was a lawyer and pilot. His mother was Margaret Eyre Sealy. Thomas had a brother named Robert Hughes, who became a famous writer. His grandfather, Thomas Hughes, was also a well-known public figure.

Thomas went to school at Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview. After that, he studied law at the University of Sydney.

A Young Pilot in WWII

In May 1942, during World War II, Thomas joined the Royal Australian Air Force. He trained to be a pilot. In December 1943, he started flying Short Sunderland planes with 10 Squadron RAAF. These planes were used for patrols and other missions.

He became a first pilot just before the Invasion of Normandy. In January 1945, he became the captain of his own plane crew. He left the Air Force in February 1946. In 2005, France gave him a special award, the Légion d'honneur, for his help in the Normandy invasion.

Becoming a Lawyer

After the war, Thomas Hughes became a lawyer in New South Wales in 1949. He became a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1962. This title is given to very experienced and respected lawyers.

He worked on many important legal cases. For example, in 1960, he helped a newspaper company win a case. In 1964, he represented a writer in a case about a book review.

Stepping into Politics

Hughes in 1964.

In 1963, Thomas Hughes won the election for the area of Parkes. He beat the person who had held the seat for a long time. In 1969, he changed to represent the area of Division of Berowra.

While he was a politician, he also continued to work as a lawyer. He was part of a special committee that looked at foreign affairs from 1964 to 1969.

Australia's Attorney-General

After the 1969 election, Thomas Hughes was chosen to be the Attorney-General. This is a very important job in the government. The Attorney-General is the chief legal advisor to the government and oversees the legal system.

In 1970, he supported the idea of making some old laws less strict. In 1971, he led a successful case in the High Court. This case helped to make the federal government's powers stronger in certain areas. In November 1971, he decided to leave politics at the next election. He wanted to go back to being a full-time lawyer.

Life After Parliament

After leaving politics, Thomas Hughes became one of the most important lawyers in Sydney. He was the president of the New South Wales Bar Association from 1973 to 1975. He continued to work as a lawyer for many years.

He helped many well-known people in their legal cases. For example, he represented the New South Wales premier in a case in 1974. He also helped a media boss in a big investigation in 1984. He even represented a famous judge in some legal matters.

In 2002, a newspaper reported that Thomas Hughes was still working full-time at 78 years old. He finally retired from being a lawyer in October 2013, just before his 90th birthday.

Family and Hobbies

In 1951, Thomas Hughes married Joanna Fitzgerald. They had three children: Lucy, Tom Jr., and Michael. Lucy later became the Lord Mayor of Sydney. She married Malcolm Turnbull, who became the prime minister of Australia. Thomas Jr. also became a lawyer, following in his father's footsteps. Michael became a stockbroker.

Thomas and Joanna divorced in 1972. He later married Chrissie Abel Smith in 1981.

In the early 1970s, Thomas Hughes bought a large farm in Gurrundah, New South Wales. He first raised cattle there. Later, he started a special sheep farm in 1976. He won awards for his sheep at local shows and even at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Thomas Hughes passed away on 28 November 2024, at the age of 101.

Awards and Recognition

	Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)	1988 for his work in the legal profession
	1939–45 Star
	France and Germany Star
	War Medal 1939–1945
	Australia Service Medal 1939–45
	Centenary Medal	2001
	Chevalier of the Legion of Honour	(France) 2005