He later served as High Commissioner to New Zealand from 1984 to 1985, cutting short his term due to his daughter's ill health.

He became active in the Amalgamated Engineering Union, serving as chair of its New South Wales Youth Committee.

However, a redistribution ahead of the 1969 election shifted most of the wealthier portions of Hughes to the newly created seat of Division of Cook.

Believing this made Hughes impossible to hold, especially with Johnson priming for a rematch, Dobie transferred to Cook.

This proved prescient, as Johnson retook the seat on a large swing while Dobie narrowly won Cook.

His position as High Commissioner was cut short following the serious illness of his daughter, Sally Anne Penman, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, and subsequently died in February 1988.