After completing his education, he worked for softgoods merchant James Hartley in County Cavan and then as a representative of the firm of Lindsay Brothers Ltd. in north-western Ireland.

[1] Storey emigrated to Sydney in 1879, working as a departmental manager for the firm of Ross, Morgan and Robertson.

Storey was actively involved in the free trade movement, serving as secretary of the Freetrade and Land Reformist League in the 1890s.

[1][2][3] In 1894, he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Free Trade member for Randwick,[4] defeating future Prime Minister of Australia Edmund Barton.

He led a group of 7 rebels who objected to Premier Charles Wade's autocratic leadership and his tactics at the 1910 election.