Tom Hughes (Australian Politician)

Tom Hughes (Australian Politician)

Thomas Eyre Forrest Hughes AO QC (born 26 November 1923) is a former Australian politician and a prominent barrister practicing at Blackstone Chambers in Sydney. 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 was Attorney-General of Australia from 1969 to 1971.

Hughes was born in Sydney, the son of a lawyer. His grandfather and great-uncle were members of the New South Wales Legislative Council. He was educated at St Ignatius' College, Riverview, and the University of Sydney, 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. He was called to the Sydney bar in 1949, becoming a QC in 1962.

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, and the disillusionment this caused led him to retire at the 1972 election. After leaving politics he became one of the leading figures at the Sydney bar. He is still engaged in full-time practice at the bar as a member of Sydney's Blackstone Chambers. Hughes has long been considered the most senior member of the New South Wales bar.

He is the brother of the writer and critic Robert Hughes. He has three children, Lucy Turnbull (former Lord Mayor of Sydney), Michael Hughes (prominent Sydney stockbroker) and Tom Hughes, Jr. (barrister). Lucy Turnbull is married to current Liberal Party politician Malcolm Turnbull.