[1] Studying medicine, he completed his junior resident year at Mater Hospital in Newcastle, where he met his future wife, Ellen Hughes (no relation).
[7][8] At the 1972 federal election, Hughes was chosen by the Liberals as their candidate for the electorate of Australian Capital Territory, and stepped down as a director of John James Hospital.
[9] He had a 5.7% swing towards him on a two-party-preferred (TPP) basis, but was still easily defeated by incumbent Labor MP Kep Enderby.
[30] Throughout his time in the Legislative Assembly, he voted in 639 divisions, the second-most of any member (behind only Liberal MLA Greg Cornwell).
[1][33] In 2014, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) "for service to medicine, to a range of professional associations, and to the community".