[3] In 1902, Broinowski joined the Commonwealth Public Service in Melbourne as a clerk with the Department of Defence, a position obtained via Prime Minister Edmund Barton who was a friend of his father.

In 1907 he was appointed private secretary to the minister for defence, working under Thomas Ewing, George Pearce, and Joseph Cook.

[3] Broinowski was promoted to clerk-assistant of the Senate in 1930 and was also made secretary of parliament's joint house department, responsible for the parliamentary facilities and grounds.

[4] Earlier that year he had been described in a Sunday Telegraph article by Richard Hughes as "a thin querulous fellow, with a beaky nose, light, angry eyebrows, and a small wig [who] hisses acid instructions and advice to the timid Senators like a bad-tempered stage prompter".

In retirement he was a book reviewer for The Sydney Morning Herald, made radio appearances on 2CH, and was a narrator for children's audiobooks.

[3] Broinowski was also a keen bushwalker, developing a friendship with Robert Henderson Croll through their membership of the Melbourne Walking Club.