He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and served as Minister for Trade and Customs from 1941 until his death in 1946.

[2] He possessed papers showing that his father had served with the Union in the American Civil War under the name "Timothy Kane", and had received a commendation for his role in the Battle of Sailor's Creek.

[3] Keane was educated at Christian Brothers College, St Kilda, following his father's transfer to Melbourne.

[1] In October 1941 Keane was appointed Minister for Trade and Customs and Vice-President of the Executive Council in the first Curtin Ministry and was responsible for administering wartime rationing and price controls.

[1] While leaving the Waldorf Astoria in New York in March 1946, Keane was "wildly cheered" by "hundreds of celebrity-conscious New Yorkers" who mistook him for Winston Churchill, who was also staying at the hotel.

He had collapsed earlier in the day at the Australian embassy due to heart trouble, which was attributed to over-work.