Des Corcoran

Who was Des Corcoran?

James Desmond "Des" Corcoran AO was an Australian politician. He was the 37th Premier of South Australia, serving between 15 February 1979 and 18 September 1979.

Born in Millicent, South Australia, Corcoran joined the Australian Labor Party in 1941. He enlisted in the Australian Army and fought in the Korean War, as well as serving in Japan, Malaya and New Guinea. Corcoran left the Army in 1961 and in 1962 was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly Electoral district of Millicent, the seat previously held by his father, Jim Corcoran.

Corcoran quickly impressed many within the Labor Party with his talent for administration and when the Labor Party won government in South Australia in 1965 for the first time in 32 years, new Premier Frank Walsh attempted to groom Corcoran as his successor as a foil to Deputy Leader Don Dunstan, whom Walsh personally disliked. Following Walsh's retirement in 1967, Corcoran challenged Dunstan for the Premiership but lost by three votes and instead became Deputy Premier.

Labor lost the 1968 election but Corcoran held the seat of Millicent by one vote over his LCL rival Martin Cameron. Cameron protested and a by-election was held, with Corcoran winning more comfortably, leaving the new Steele Hall LCL government to rely on the casting vote of Independent Speaker Tom Stott. Following the election, Corcoran became Deputy Opposition Leader under Don Dunstan and upon Labor's victory at the 1970 election, he returned to the Deputy Premiership and assumed the Marine and Harbours and Public Works portfolios.