He was Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales from 1 June to 12 October 1981, when he lost the election to Labor Premier Neville Wran.
[1] He served as the Foundation President of the Urban Development Institute of Australia from 1962 to 1964 and again from 1974 to 1976, becoming a Life Member.
Waddy resigned from the party and contested the seat as an independent, but lost by a large margin to McDonald.
However, he was defeated by the independent candidate, North Sydney Council mayor Ted Mack.
Following his loss McDonald moved to South Australia, settling in the Adelaide suburb of Kent Town, and becoming a Member of the SA State Executive (1984–1993), Executive Vice-president from 1984 to 1987 and President of Liberal Party of South Australia from 1987 to 1990.