 Chaney helped found the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia in 1973,

Chaney first attempted to enter politics at the 1971 Ascot by-election, running for the state Legislative Assembly.He was elected to federal parliament as a Senator for Western Australia for the Liberal Party at the 1974 election.He was Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 1983 until 1990 when he became the first member for the Division of Pearce in the House of Representatives, a position he held until 1993.