He was a long-serving member of the Redfern Municipal Council and was a hotel manager and tram driver before entering politics.

[1] Mooney began working for his father after completing primary school, helping run hotels at Bega, Pambula and Tomerong.

[1] In December 1931, Mooney was nominated to fill the casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Walter Duncan, a member of the United Australia Party (UAP).

[1] Mooney spoke only five times in the Senate and was a staunch defender of Lang and his government's policies.

He returned to local politics and served as a Redfern alderman until 1935,[1] as well as a Lang Labor organiser.