Robyn-Lyn Walmsley [1] (known as Robyn Walmsley) is a former Australian politician. She was an Australian Labor Party member of the former Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly from 1979 to 1985.
Walmsley was born in Canberra.[2] At the time of her election to the House of Assembly in 1979, she was 32, a qualified biochemist, a graduate student in politics at the Australian National University, and married with two children.[3]
Prior to election to the ACT House of Assembly, Walmsley was active in the Abortion Counselling Service.[4] and a vice-president of the Family Planning Association.[5] She was also an active member of Women Against Rape.[6] In 1981 she was elected vice-president of the ACT Council of Social Service.[7]
Walmsley was elected to the ACT House of Assembly in 1979, for the Division of Canberra.[8] Peter Vallee was Labor leader from 1977 to 1982. He resigned, in order to allow a woman to lead Labor into the 1982 election.[9] Walmsley then became the acting leader,[10] but, as it turned out, a woman was not elected leader. The new leader was Ken Doyle, but he resigned after a year, in 1983, and Maurene Horder was elected leader in his place.[11]
Walmsley resigned as a MHA in 1985, and was replaced by Rosemary Follett.[12]