Peter Walsh (Victorian politician)

The Honourable
Peter Walsh
MLA
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Assumed office
4 December 2014
Leader Matthew Guy
Preceded by James Merlino
Shadow Minister for Agriculture
Assumed office
4 December 2014
Premier Daniel Andrews
Preceded by Jacinta Allan
Shadow Minister for Water
Assumed office
4 December 2014
Preceded by Martin Foley
Minister for Agriculture
In office
2 December 2010  4 December 2014
Premier Ted Baillieu
Denis Napthine
Preceded by Joe Helper
Succeeded by Jaala Pulford
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Murray Plains
Assumed office
29 November 2014
Preceded by New seat
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Swan Hill
In office
30 November 2002  29 November 2014
Preceded by Barry Steggall
Succeeded by Seat abolished
Personal details
Born (1954-01-09) 9 January 1954
Boort, Victoria
Nationality Australian
Political party National Party of Australia
Spouse(s) Rosanne Kava

Peter Lindsay Walsh (born 9 January 1954) is an Australian politician. He has been a National Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2002, representing the electorate of Swan Hill until 2014 and Murray Plains thereafter. Walsh was Minister for Agriculture and Food Security and Minister for Water in the Baillieu and Napthine Coalition governments. He has been state leader of the Nationals since 3 December 2014.

Walsh was born and raised at Boort in Northern Victoria, attending Fernihurst Primary School and Boort Secondary College. He was the president of the Victorian Farmers Federation from 1998 until his election to parliament in 2002. Before entering politics, he operated an irrigated horticulture and cropping enterprise, producing tomatoes, cereals, oilseeds and legumes. He was also a director of SPC Limited, a member of the state Food Industry Advisory Council, and a board member of the National Farmers Federation.

Walsh was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2003 for services to the environment. He is a keen Australian rules football fan, having served as a Boort player, committee man and selector. He was President of the Boort Football Club between 1988 and 1990. Walsh was also a member of the local Apex Club from 1982 to 1992, again including a term as President.

Walsh was elected to the Legislative Assembly at the 2002 election, easily retaining the seat for the National Party after the retirement of long-serving MP Barry Steggall. He was re-elected at the 2006 and 2010 elections, receiving 79.3% of the two-party preferred vote in 2010.

Victorian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by
Barry Steggall
Member for Swan Hill
2002–2014
District abolished
New district Member for Murray Plains
2014–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Joe Helper
as Minister for Agriculture
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security
2010–2014
Succeeded by
Jaala Pulford
as Minister for Agriculture
Preceded by
Tim Holding
Minister for Water
2010–2014
Succeeded by
Lisa Neville
as Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water
Party political offices
Preceded by
Peter Ryan
Leader of the Nationals in Victoria
2014–present
Incumbent
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