Walsh was the endorsed Labor candidate for the seat of Coogee at the 1950 election,[2] but was defeated by the incumbent Liberal Party member and future Speaker, Kevin Ellis. This was the first of seven elections over 18 years were contested by Walsh and Ellis.
Walsh defeated Ellis, during a statewide swing to Labor, at the next election in 1953.[3] However, he was again defeated by Ellis at the 1956,[4]1956 when Labor's vote fell because of the split in the federal party caused by the formation of the DLP. Walsh was unsuccessful at the 1959 election,[5] but defeated Ellis in 1962.[6] Ellis regained the seat, yet again, in the general anti-Labor swing that resulted in the defeat of the Renshaw government in 1965 to regain the seat,[7] Walsh made a final unsuccessful attempt to win the seat in 1968.[8] He did not hold party, parliamentary or ministerial office.