Ronald William "Bunna" Walsh (20 June 1933 - 30 March 2022) was a former Australian politician. He was born in

Port Melbourne Port Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the Cities of Melbourne and Port Phillip local government areas. Port Melbourne recorded a populatio ...

to labourer William John Joseph Walsh and Amy Lydia. He attended state schools and became a waterside worker in 1954. Having joined the Labor Party in 1960, he was an official with the

Waterside Workers Federation The Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia (WWF) was an Australian trade union that existed from 1902 to 1993. After a period of negotiations between other Australian maritime unions, it was federated in 1902 and first federally registered ...

from 1964 to 1979 and also served as president of the ALP's

South Melbourne South Melbourne is an inner suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Port Phillip local government area. South Melbourne recorded a population of 11,548 at t ...

branch. In 1970 he was elected to the

Victorian Legislative Council The Victorian Legislative Council (VLC) is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria, Australia, the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit at Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Co ...

for Melbourne West, but his election was declared void later that year because of an old criminal conviction in the Children's Court. Walsh was elected to the

Victorian Legislative Assembly The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria in Australia; the upper house being the Victorian Legislative Council. Both houses sit at Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The presiding ...

in 1979 as the member for Albert Park. He was government whip from 1982 to 1985 and then moved to the frontbench, holding the portfolios of Public Works (1985–87), Housing and Construction (1987–88), Property and Services (1988–90) and

Water Resources Water resources are natural resources of water that are potentially useful for humans, for example as a source of drinking water supply or irrigation water. 97% of the water on the Earth is salt water and only three percent is fresh water; slight ...

(1988–90). In 1992 he attempted to return to the Legislative Council by contesting the seat of Monash, but he was defeated.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Bunna 1933 births 2022 deaths Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Victoria Members of the Victorian Legislative Council Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly Ministers for Public Works (Victoria) Ministers for Water (Victoria)