Career
He was the youngest Cabinet Minister in Tasmanian history, appointed at the age of 27 in the government of premier Doug Lowe. In 1989 during the Field government he was made the speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He was minister for national parks 1976–1981.
In the Tasmanian state election 2006, Polley received the highest primary vote in Lyons.
Polley announced in June 2013 that he would retire at the 2014 Tasmanian state election. In September 2014 Polley announced he would stand as councillor for the Northern Midlands Council in the 2014 Tasmanian Local Government Elections.
