Des Corcoran

The Honourable Des Corcoran AO
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 (1928-11-08)8 November 1928 Millicent, South Australia, Australia
Died	3 January 2004(2004-01-03) (aged 75) Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Political party	Labor (SA)
Spouse	Carmel Campbell ​ (m. 1957)​
Children	8
Parent	Jim Corcoran (father)
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	Korean War Malayan Emergency
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.