After graduation he began to study political science and history at the University of Innsbruck, where he was the chairman of the Student Union.

In April 1997, he became the personal assistant of Governor Herbert Sausgruber on 1 November 1999 until his appointment as country manager of the ÖVP Vorarlberg.

On 11 October 2000, Wallner followed his party colleague Greti Schmid as Regional Minister in the Government of Vorarlberg.

From 29 January 2003, he served in the State Parliament of Vorarlberg as the post of club chairman of the ÖVP parliamentary group.

[1] As such, his area of responsibility covered in the Vorarlberg state government on the areas of health law and social security, medical matters, disability assistance and, since 2009, building construction, building industry, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering as well as cable cars and lift technology.