He became a doctor and cancer specialist and then served as an Advisor to the Minister for Health, Dr Michael Wooldridge.
In 1987, Woods was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Lowe, defeating Labor MP Michael Maher.
In 1996, when the Liberal/National Coalition won government, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Family Services.
It later emerged that allegations of misuse of parliamentary privileges and revelations concerning his personal life forced his resignation.
[3] Woods was charged with 41 counts of fraud and in 1999 pleaded guilty to six counts of "imposing on the Commonwealth", received a suspended sentence of eighteen months imprisonment and a fine of $5,000 and was ordered to pay reparation to the Commonwealth of $10,708.