Mooney was serving his sixth successive term when he was resoundingly defeated in the 2008 election with only 35% of the vote.

The first was as the ALP candidate for the court ordered Queensland state Mundingburra by-election.

Mooney received a scholarship to study at James Cook University in 1972 and completed an honours degree in education- arts.

Mooney received the Centenary Medal on 1 January 2001 for distinguished service to local government.

[11] On 26 January 2011, Mooney was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to local government, and to the community of Townsville through a range of tourism, business and infrastructure organisations.