MS 4651
Papers of Thomas Eyre Forrest Hughes (1923- )



Scope and Content Note

  • Papers
  • 1963-72
  • 2.24m. (16 boxes)
  • Access restricted.

The papers comprise correspondence, memoranda, addresses by Hughes, William McMahon and other ministers, press releases, case transcripts, parliamentary speeches and questions, committee reports, subject files, newspaper cuttings and other papers.

The papers primarily relate to Hughes' period as Attorney-General and contain Commonwealth Police reports and other documents relating to the activities of draft resisters and anti-Vietnam War demonstrators as well as drafts and associated material relating to the National Service Act, the Public Order (Protection of Persons and Property) Bill and other legislation. The papers also contain Liberal Party papers including minutes of policy and committee meetings, and papers relating to Hughes' non-Ministerial parliamentary activities.

The papers were donated to the Library by Hughes in 1972.

Other T.E.F. Hughes papers are held by the Australian Archives (CP 56).

Biographical Note

Thomas Eyre Forrest Hughes was born on 26 November 1923 in Sydney and educated at St Ignatius College (Riverview) and the University of Sydney, graduating as a Bachelor of Law.

In 1942-46 he was a Flight Lieutenant in the R.A.A.F., where he served as a pilot with 10 Squadron in 1943-45. In 1949 Hughes was called to the NSW Bar and in 1962 became a Queen's Counsel.

In November 1963 Hughes successfully contested the Federal seat of Parkes on behalf of the Liberal Party. He was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, 1964-69. At the Federal elections in October 1969 he won the seat of Berowra in the House of Representatives. From November 1969 to March 1971 he was Commonwealth Attorney General in the government led by John Gorton. Hughes retired from politics in December 1972.

After he left politics, Hughes resumed work as one of the leading barristers in Sydney. In 1972-75 he was a member of the Council of the Australian National University and in 1973-75 was President of NSW Bar Association.

Hughes was awarded the Order of Australia in 1988.

Series List

  1. Member for Parkes, NSW, 1963-69
  2. Liberal Party, 1966-70
  3. Attorney-General, 1969-71
    • Sub-series 1: Semi-official correspondence, 1969-71
    • Sub-series 2: Correspondence, 1970-71
    • Sub-series 3: Anti-Vietnam War Movement, 1968-71
    • Sub-series 4: Corporate law, 1969-72
    • Sub-series 5: Subject files, 1969-71
    • Sub-series 6: Other papers, 1970-71
  4. Speeches and press statements, 1969-71
  5. Member for Berowra, NSW, 1971-72
  6. Other papers, 1971


Series Descriptions

Series 1 - Member for Parkes, NSW, 1963-69

Files containing typescripts, publications and some correspondence regarding the Attorney-General's Committee, Education Committee, industrial relations and the Australian Stevedoring Industry Authority. Also includes a Political Intelligence Bulletin prepared for the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs (closed until 1999).

10 folders

Series 2 - Liberal Party, 1966-70

Folder

1 Joint Standing Committee on Federal Policy, 1966-67
2 Steering Committee Meeting, February 18, 1970
3-4 Federal Council Meeting, Hotel Canberra, June 8-9, 1970
5-6 Liberal Party and Young Liberals, 1969-70
7-12 Correspondence, speeches and typescripts regarding various political matters and campaign matters, 1970
13 Miscellaneous typescripts and photocopies of news cuttings

Series 3 - Attorney-General, 1969-71

Sub-series 1 - Semi-official correspondence, 1969-71

Correspondence files marked 'personal'. Includes carbon copies of letters by Hughes and his private secretary and correspondence from foreign government officials, members of the public, friends and associates. The files contain letters and notes of congratulation and thanks, recommendations for knighthoods and correspondence concerning matters personal and political.

Correspondents include Bob Katter, Sir Frank Packer, John McEwen, William McMahon, R.J. Ellicott, R.J. Southey and Robert Cotton.

3 folders

Sub-series 2 - Correspondence, 1970-71

Folder

1 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1970-71. Includes a letter to William McMahon and a report from Commonwealth Police concerning attempt to trespass at Prime Minister's Lodge, 10 March 1970
2 Correspondence concerning leave from House of Representatives, 1970

Sub-series 3 - Anti-Vietnam War Movement, 1968-71

Folder

1 National service prosecutions, 1970
Crimes Act prosecution, 1970
2-4 Commonwealth Police reports and memos informing of activities of Dr Jim Cairns, Draft Resistance Union, Resist, Vietnam moratorium campaign and Hotham Young Labor Association, 1970
5 Commonwealth Police anti-conscription enquiries summary report containing information on Scrag, Hotham Young Labor Association, Queensland University Regiment trespass and Michael Cornelius Hetherington Jones, 1970
6 Results of Victorian court cases and Resist interview with Keith Langford, 1970
Victorian cases pending prosecution (Crimes Act), 1970
7-8 National Service (Sydney) matters and Victorian material, 1970
9 Volume containing legal advice, Commonwealth police reports and other papers concerning Draft Resistance Union, 1970
10-12 Draft Resistance Union - newspaper clippings (photocopies), Commonwealth Police reports, prosecution information, Police interview transcripts, and records regarding Resist and a demonstration held at Hughes' Bellevue Hill home, 1970
13 Interview transcripts with Jack Mundey, Secretary of New South Wales Branch of the Builders Labourers Federation containing two interviews by ABC radio and by Commonwealth police. Also includes typescripts regarding prosecution of Mundey for seditious libel and photocopies of newspaper clippings, 1970
14 Commonwealth police reports and Attorney-General Dept. minutes concerning anti-war movement activities, Vietnam Moratorium campaign, Queensland University Regiment trespass and students for a Democratic Society. ASIO report on Students for a Democratic Society, 1970
15-16 Commonwealth Police reports concerning Brian James Ross (a draft resister), copies of The beacon, Attorney-General Department memos regarding demonstrations and miscellaneous material regarding the anti-war movement, 1970.
17-19 National Service Act (1968)
20- 42Public Order (Protection of Persons and Property) Bill. Files and loose papers including Attorney-General's Department memos, drafts of Hughes' second reading speech, drafts of the Bill, correspondence, newspaper cuttings, articles, addresses, cabinet submissions, and files relating to statutory provisions for the control of demonstrations, unlawful assembly and public order.


Sub-series 4: Corporate law, 1969-72

Folder

1 Notes, texts of speech and current affairs broadcast and other papers regarding responsibilities and liabilities of company directors, 1969-72.
2 Transcript of evidence of cases in the matter of the Trade Practices Act 1965-1967 between Keith Edgar William Strickland and Rocla Concrete Pipes Limited and Concrete Industries (Monier) Limited.
3-7 Files on trade practices law and cases
8 Trade Practices Act and annual reports (including draft speeches by Hughes), 1971
9 Corporation's power: background material (Keith Edgar William Strickland versus Humes Limited), 1970
10 Company Law Advisory Committee. Reports to the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General, 1969-70
11 Eggleston Committee reports, 1969

Sub-series 5: Subject files, 1969-72

Folder

1 Captain J.P. Stevenson, 1969
2 Civil Aviation (Offenders on International Aircraft) Act, 1970
3 Bankruptcy Bill, 1970
Commonwealth Places (Application of Laws) Bill, 1970
Designs Law Review Committee, 1970
4 Bills of Exchange Bill, 1970
5 Parliamentary Councel Bill, 1970
6 NSW Summary Offences (Trespassers Bill), 1970
7 Territorial Sea and Continental Shelf Act, 1970
8 Senate and House of Representatives questions on and without notice - Autumn Session, 1970
9 Publication of Commonwealth Act and Statutory Rules - statements, 1970-71
10 ACT Parole of Prisoners Ordinance, 1971
Fisheries Bill, 1971
Continental Shelf (Living Natural Resources) Bill, 1971
11 Criminology Research Bill, 1971
12 Questions without notice - House of Representatives, 1971
Questions on notice - House of Representatives, 1971
Questions without notice - Senate, 1971
Questions on notice - Senate, 1971

13 Public Service Arbitration Bill, 1969-72
14 Drafting assistance for private members ministerial statement, n.d.

Sub-series 6: - Other papers, 1970-71

Folder

1-4 Bundle of miscellaneous typescript, memos, press statements, correspondence and other papers assembled by Hughes around 1970-71. The items are arranged and listed by Hughes and include papers relating to Vietnam civic action policy, ACT Companies Ordinance 1971, Ian McDonald, parliamentary dissolutions, higher education, High Court feasibility study and Lake View and Star Limited.
5 File of articles and an annual report on legal matters

Series 4 - Speeches and press statements, 1969-71

See also series 3/6 for press statements.

Manuscripts and typescript copies of speeches and press statements mainly by T.E.F. Hughes. Includes speeches given to Liberal Party meetings and functions. Most of the papers were arranged and listed by Hughes. The list is in folder 1.

13 folders

Series 5 - Member for Berowra, NSW, 1971-72

Papers assembled by Hughes in the period between returning to the backbench in 1971 and his retirement in 1972. Includes speeches and press releases by William McMahon and other ministers, articles, cuttings and other papers.

5 folders

Series 6 - Other papers, 1971

Correspondence from Australian Capital Territory Bar Council advising Hughes of his admission to the ACT Bar, 1971. There are also copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Australian Capital Territory Bar Association.

1 folder

Box List

Box
Series
Sub-series
Folder
1
1
1-8
2
1
9-10
2
1-6
3
2
7-13
4
3
1
1-3
3
2
1-2
3
3
1-3
5
3
3
4-11
6
3
3
12-19
7
3
3
20-27
8
3
3
28-35
9
3
3
36-42
10
3
4
1-3
11
3
4
4-11
12
3
5
1-8
13
3
4
9-14
3
6
1-2
14
3
6
3-5
4
1-4
15
4
5-12
16
4
13
5
1-6
6
1