Prior to entering politics, he worked at the Cockatoo Island Dockyard, served as secretary of the Commonwealth Public Service Clerical Officers Association and later as NSW state secretary of the Federated Clerks' Union.

His victory resulted in the first time a father and son had sat together in federal parliament.

[8] He held the seat until 1934, when he was defeated by Jock Garden, the Lang Labor candidate.

[1] After leaving politics, Riley became a prominent advertising executive and served on the board of trustees of the Australian War Memorial from 1930 to 1966.

This article about an Australian Labor Party member of the House of Representatives is a stub.