He was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly between 1963 and 1975, representing the electorates of Stirling from 1963 to 1970 and Heysen from 1970 to 1975, for the Liberal and Country League and its successor the Liberal Party.
He worked for the National Bank after graduating from high school, and studied accountancy and commerce at night.
He attempted to enlist for service in World War II, but was rejected and served in the Volunteer Defence Corps.
He also served as chairman of the District Council of Strathalbyn and had been state and federal president of the Australian Primary Producers Union.
He unsuccessfully contested a 1956 federal by-election as an independent prior to his entrance into state politics; although the Liberal and Country League easily retained the seat, McAnaney received 7.4 percent of the vote.