[1][2] In August 2003, while serving as mayor, Pooley voted with the council majority of 7–2 to implement a relationships register for same-sex couples, being the first of its kind at the time in Australia.

[5] In 2007, while still serving as a councillor, Pooley took up a position as Chief of Staff to the Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Kristina Keneally.

In 2014, Pooley was called before the Independent Commission Against Corruption as a witness to testify regarding doctored cabinet minutes relating to Australian Water Holdings.

[8] A longtime resident of Redfern, he is married to senior public servant Joanna Quilty and has a daughter, Beth.

[9] In 2021, Pooley was a candidate for the December 2021 Council election for the City of Sydney as part of the 8-member Labor ticket led by Linda Scott.