Born in Port Macquarie to farmer William Binney and Sophia Selina Turnbull, he was educated at state schools.

He was active in local Labor Party politics, and was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1943.

[1] He held that position until 1949, when he transferred to federal politics, defeating former premier Jack Lang for the new seat of Blaxland.

[2] He first married Una Grace May Brown at Pleasant Plains, near Port Macquarie, on 15 October 1924, three days after reaching adulthood.

He subsequently married Joyce Ethel McGovern[4] on 7 September 1975 at North Melbourne, but died the following year.