Sir Desmond Henry O'Neil was an Australian politician who was a Liberal Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1959 to 1980.
11 Facts About Des O'Neil
1.
2.
Des O'Neil was a minister in the governments of Sir David Brand and Sir Charles Court, and served as deputy premier to Court between 1975 and 1980.
3.
On returning to Australia, Des O'Neil worked as a schoolteacher in country Western Australia, and was headmaster of schools at Roebourne, Dowerin, Wilga, Nyamup, and Donnelly River.
4.
At the 1959 state election, O'Neil contested the seat of Canning, located in the southern suburbs of Perth, despite having only joined the Liberal Party the previous year.
5.
At the 1962 election, Des O'Neil successfully transferred to the newly created seat of East Melville, which was a safe seat for the Liberals throughout its existence.
6.
John Tonkin's one-term Labor government was defeated in 1974, and Des O'Neil was made Minister for Housing, Minister for Works, and Minister for Water Supplies.
7.
Court initially governed in coalition with the National Country Party, led by Ray McPharlin, but the coalition collapsed in May 1975, and Des O'Neil consequently replaced McPharlin as deputy premier when a new ministry was constituted the following month, becoming Minister for the North-West.
8.
The ministry was again reconstituted following the 1977 election, with Des O'Neil losing the housing, works, and water portfolios, but gaining the roles of Chief Secretary, Minister for Police, and Minister for Regional Administration.
9.
Des O'Neil remained deputy premier and minister until his retirement at the 1980 state election, with Anthony Trethowan succeeding him in East Melville.
10.
Des O'Neil had been created a knight bachelor in the 1980 New Year Honours.
11.
Des O'Neil had married Nancy Jean Culver in 1944, with whom he had two daughters.