Des Corcoran
Encyclopedia
James Desmond "Des" Corcoran AO
(8 November 1928 – 3 January 2004) was an Australia
n 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
(ALP) in 1941. He enlisted in the Australian Army
and fought in the Korean War
(where he was mentioned in dispatches
), 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.
Dunstan and Corcoran made an odd but effective team. While Corcoran, a devout Catholic
, privately opposed many of the social reforms Dunstan was implementing, such as liberalising abortion
and homosexuality
laws, as well as personally disliking Dunstan's lifestyle and his fondness for the arts, theatre and relaxed dress fashions, they managed to maintain a working relationship. Dunstan used Corcoran's plain speaking to deal with any rogue party elements while Dunstan remained the public face of the Labor government.
After eleven years as Deputy Premier, Corcoran became Premier on 15 February 1979 after Dunstan's shock resignation due to ill health and assumed the positions of Treasurer and Minister for Ethnic Affairs. Spurred by positive opinion polls and seeking to escape the shadow of Dunstan, Corcoran called a snap election (without pre-informing the party apparatus) in order to gain a mandate of his own. The election campaign was plagued by problems, The Advertiser was biased toward the Liberal campaign, and the Labor Party suffered an 11% swing against it. Corcoran was bitter in defeat, believing sections of the ALP had undermined him during the campaign.
Corcoran retired from politics in 1982 and died from cancer
at age 75 in 2004. He was survived by his wife, Carmel, their eight children and twelve grandchildren.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(8 November 1928 – 3 January 2004) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was the 37th Premier of South Australia, serving between 15 February 1979 and 18 September 1979.
Born in Millicent
Millicent, South Australia
Millicent is a town in South Australia, south-east of Adelaide, and north of Mount Gambier. At the 2006 Census, the population was 4,771.The town is home to the Millicent National Trust Museum, and is nearby to the Tantanoola Caves Conservation Park and the Canunda National Park.The Millicent...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, Corcoran joined the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
(ALP) in 1941. He enlisted in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
and fought in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
(where he was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
), as well as serving in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Malaya
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
and New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. Corcoran left the Army in 1961 and in 1962
South Australian state election, 1962
State elections were held in Australia on 3 March 1962. All 39 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Liberal and Country League led by Premier of South Australia Thomas Playford IV defeated the Australian Labor Party led by Leader of the Opposition...
was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
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
Frank Walsh
Francis Henry "Frank" Walsh was the 34th Premier of South Australia, serving from 10 March 1965 to 1 June 1967.-Early life:One of eight children, Walsh was born into an Irish Catholic family in O'Halloran Hill, South Australia...
attempted to groom Corcoran as his successor as a foil to Deputy Leader Don Dunstan
Don Dunstan
Donald Allan "Don" Dunstan, AC, QC was a South Australian politician. He entered politics as the Member for Norwood in 1953, became state Labor leader in 1967, and was Premier of South Australia between June 1967 and April 1968, and again between June 1970 and February 1979.The son of a business...
, 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
Liberal and Country League
The Liberal and Country League was a major political party in South Australia throughout its forty year existence. Thirty-four years were spent in government, in part due to the electoral malapportionment known as the Playmander, introduced after coming to power.Created on 9 June 1932 as the...
rival Martin Cameron
Martin Cameron
Martin Bruce Cameron , Australian politician, was a member of the Australian Senate and the South Australian Legislative Council....
. Cameron protested and a by-election was held, with Corcoran winning more comfortably, leaving the new Steele Hall
Steele Hall
Raymond Steele Hall was the 36th Premier of South Australia 1968-70, a senator for South Australia 1974-77, and federal member for the Division of Boothby 1981-96.-Biography:...
LCL government to rely on the casting vote of Independent Speaker Tom Stott
Tom Stott
Tom Cleave Stott CBE spent 37 years as an independent member of the South Australian House of Assembly, serving as Speaker of the House from 1962 to 1965 and 1968 to 1970....
. Following the election, Corcoran became Deputy Opposition Leader under Don Dunstan
Don Dunstan
Donald Allan "Don" Dunstan, AC, QC was a South Australian politician. He entered politics as the Member for Norwood in 1953, became state Labor leader in 1967, and was Premier of South Australia between June 1967 and April 1968, and again between June 1970 and February 1979.The son of a business...
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.
Dunstan and Corcoran made an odd but effective team. While Corcoran, a devout Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, privately opposed many of the social reforms Dunstan was implementing, such as liberalising abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
and homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
laws, as well as personally disliking Dunstan's lifestyle and his fondness for the arts, theatre and relaxed dress fashions, they managed to maintain a working relationship. Dunstan used Corcoran's plain speaking to deal with any rogue party elements while Dunstan remained the public face of the Labor government.
After eleven years as Deputy Premier, Corcoran became Premier on 15 February 1979 after Dunstan's shock resignation due to ill health and assumed the positions of Treasurer and Minister for Ethnic Affairs. Spurred by positive opinion polls and seeking to escape the shadow of Dunstan, Corcoran called a snap election (without pre-informing the party apparatus) in order to gain a mandate of his own. The election campaign was plagued by problems, The Advertiser was biased toward the Liberal campaign, and the Labor Party suffered an 11% swing against it. Corcoran was bitter in defeat, believing sections of the ALP had undermined him during the campaign.
Corcoran retired from politics in 1982 and died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at age 75 in 2004. He was survived by his wife, Carmel, their eight children and twelve grandchildren.