He was an unsuccessful candidate for political office on several occasions at state and federal level and later worked as a staffer for Prime Minister John Gorton.

[2] Arthur was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly at the 1953 state election, standing against Australian Labor Party (ALP) MP Clive Evatt in the seat of Hurstville.

[1] With his seat regarded as a key electorate for the Liberal Party, he concentrated on local matters including the reclamation of the Botany Bay shoreline, the maintenance of the jet curfew at Sydney Airport, and opposition to a second airport at Towra Point.

[11] Arthur was a "keen supporter of the arts" and served on the board of The Australian Ballet, including as deputy chairman in 1978.

[13] Arthur was stabbed to death on or about 28 February 1982, aged 63, at his holiday cabin at South Era Beach in the Royal National Park.

[16] He additionally alleged that a police sergeant had told him that he would only be charged with manslaughter, as Arthur was known to be homosexual.

[14] Wait was convicted of murder in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in February 1983 and sentenced to life imprisonment.