Des Corcoran | |
|---|---|
 Corcoran in 1979 | |
| Premier of South Australia | |
| In office 15 February 1979 – 18 September 1979 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | Sir Keith Seaman |
| Deputy | Hugh Hudson |
| Preceded by | Don Dunstan |
| Succeeded by | David Tonkin |
| Leader of the Opposition in South Australia | |
| In office 18 September 1979 – 2 October 1979 | |
| Preceded by | David Tonkin |
| Succeeded by | John Bannon |
| Leader of the South Australian Labor Party | |
| In office 15 March 1979 – 2 October 1979 Acting leader: 15 February – 15 March 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Don Dunstan |
| Succeeded by | John Bannon |
| Deputy Premier of South Australia | |
| In office 2 July 1970 – 15 March 1979 | |
| Premier | Don Dunstan |
| Preceded by | Office re-established |
| Succeeded by | Hugh Hudson |
| In office 26 March 1968 – 16 April 1968 | |
| Premier | Don Dunstan |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Deputy Leader of the South Australian Labor Party | |
| In office 1 June 1967 – 15 February 1979 | |
| Deputy | Hugh Hudson |
| Leader | Don Dunstan |
| Preceded by | Cyril Hutchens |
| Succeeded by | Hugh Hudson |
| Treasurer of South Australia | |
| In office 15 February 1979 – 18 September 1979 | |
| Premier | Himself |
| Preceded by | Don Dunstan |
| Succeeded by | David Tonkin |
| Member of the South Australian Parliament for Hartley | |
| In office 17 September 1977 – 6 November 1982 | |
| Preceded by | New district |
| Succeeded by | Terry Groom |
| Member of the South Australian Parliament for Coles | |
| In office 12 July 1975 – 17 September 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Len King |
| Succeeded by | Jennifer Cashmore |
| Member of the South Australian Parliament for Millicent | |
| In office 3 March 1962 – 12 July 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Corcoran |
| Succeeded by | Murray Vandepeer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Desmond Corcoran 8 November 1928 Millicent, South Australia, Australia |
| Died | 3 January 2004 (aged 75) Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Political party | Labor (SA) |
| Spouse |
Carmel Campbell (m. 1957) |
| Children | 8 |
| Parent |
|
| Awards | Officer of the Order of Australia (1982) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service | Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Service number | 23934 |
| Unit | 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment |
| Active service | |
| Awards | Mentioned in despatches (twice) |
James Desmond Corcoran AO (8 November 1928 – 3 January 2004) was an Australian politician who served as the 37th premier of South Australia between February and September 1979, following the resignation of Don Dunstan. During his brief premiership Corcoran also served as state treasurer. Born at Millicent in the southeast of the state, he served in the Australian Army in the Korean War and Malayan Emergency, reaching the rank of captain, and being twice mentioned in despatches. Following his discharge in 1961, Corcoran was elected to the House of Assembly, succeeding his father Jim Corcoran – who retired at the 1962 election – as the member for the electoral district of Millicent representing the Australian Labor Party.
Corcoran was a key figure in the modernisation of the state branch of the Labor Party, which had been in opposition since 1933. When the party gained power in 1965, Corcoran was allocated the portfolios of irrigation, lands and repatriation in the government of Frank Walsh. Upon Walsh's retirement in 1968, Corcoran contested the party leadership but was defeated by Dunstan. In the Dunstan cabinet, Corcoran retained responsibility for irrigation and lands, and replaced repatriation with immigration. In March 1968, he became the first formally appointed deputy premier of the state, and gained the tourism portfolio. Two months later, Labor lost government and Corcoran nearly lost his seat, but retained his role as Dunstan's deputy.
At the 1970 state election, Labor returned to the government benches, and Corcoran regained his position as deputy premier, and took up the marine and works ministries. Dunstan and Corcoran had very different styles, but they formed a strong and respectful partnership. From 1975, unfavourable redistributions caused Corcoran to shift to metropolitan seats, first Coles, then from 1977, Hartley, which he held until 1982. Following the 1977 state election, he gained the environment portfolio, retaining marine and works. After Dunstan's resignation, Corcoran became premier and decided to call an early election to gain a personal mandate, buoyed by polling. This proved unwise, as the campaign went badly, business groups and media openly supported the opposition Liberal Party, and Labor lost office. Having retained Hartley, Corcoran resigned as Labor leader and did not contest the 1982 election. Dunstan was angry with Corcoran for wasting a full year of the term of government they had won in 1977, and because he had not continued to pursue Dunstan's policies on industrial democracy and Aboriginal land rights.
Made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1982 in recognition of his service to politics and government, Corcoran was also awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001. He died in 2004 following a long illness, and was granted a state funeral. Described as a larger than life character who was respected on both sides of politics, Corcoran's long and successful partnership with Dunstan was a hallmark of his political life.