He then moved to New South Wales, where he worked as a Newcastle agent for the Federated Seamen's Union of Australasia.

After the Australian union's support for a British strike in 1925, the Deportation Board found against Walsh and fellow unionist Jacob Johnson and they were held at Garden Island until a successful appeal.

[1][2] In 1928, Walsh lost control of the union to Johnson after advocating decreased militancy in order to consolidate its achievements.

His wife Margaret died of tuberculosis on 6 April 1914 and their three daughters were sent to live with the socialist journalist Robert Ross.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Adela was interned but appealed to be allowed to return to her dying husband's side.