Walsh entered into a confidential settlement with the environmental group, the terms of which required him to post a public apology on his official website.
[2] In the wake of the Coalition losing government at the 2014 election, outgoing Deputy Premier Peter Ryan retired from the party leadership, declaring that it was time for generational change.
[7][8] Labor Water Minister Lisa Neville subsequently announced that she was seeking to recover a number of questionable grants made during Walsh's tenure as minister, including a $500,000 grant to colourful property spruiker Henry Kaye for the construction of an "architectural masterpiece" in Melbourne's western suburbs that never eventuated and instead remains a disused rubbish dump.
[16] In February 2022, Walsh, along with Matthew Guy, David Davis, Gary Blackwood and Melina Bath, were fined $100 each for breaching face mask rules, after the Coalition MPs were photographed maskless while attending an event in Parliament House.
[17][18][19] On Monday 25 November 2024, Walsh was replaced as party leader by Gippsland South MP Danny O'Brien at a late night partyroom meeting.
Media were informed of the change the following day, with Walsh moving to the backbench for the remainder of the parliamentary term and earning praise from Labor Treasurer Tim Pallas.