He was a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1971 to 1984, representing Gosford until 1973 and Peats thereafter.
He was chairman of Brisbane Water County Council from 1960 to 1971 and a member of the local government electricity association from 1960 to 1971, becoming President in his last year.
[1] In 1971, O'Connell was selected as the Labor candidate for Gosford and defeated sitting Liberal MP Ted Humphries.
[2] In 1973, the creation of Peats left Gosford with a Liberal majority, and O'Connell contested the new seat instead.
He held the seat easily until his retirement in 1984, which allowed Paul Landa, Labor's leader in the Legislative Council, to shift to the Assembly.