He was a Senator for New South Wales from 1937 until his death in 1958, representing the Australian Labor Party (ALP).

He was the son of Julia Ann (née O'Connell) and James Ashley; his father worked as a station overseer.

He and his younger brother Tom enlisted in the Australian Commonwealth Horse in 1902 as troopers in the 5th Battalion.

[1] Their regiment arrived in South Africa after the conclusion of the Boer War and they returned to Australia a few months later.

[2] Ashley was pre-selected for the ALP's Senate ticket in New South Wales at the 1937 election, partly because his surname would appear high on the ballot paper under the alphabetical system then in effect.

In June 1949, his handling of a scheme to introduce long-service leave for coal miners contributed to a major ensuing strike.

According to journalist Don Whitington, as a member of parliament he "developed few of the objectionable mannerisms that stud the path of many men of all parties to the privileges of Ministerial office [...] he continued to live in a small flat at a Sydney seaside suburb, to wear shabby double breasted blue suits with tan shoes, and horse racing continued to be his only spare time interest".