Jim Kennan

James Harley "Jim" Kennan SC (25 February 1946 – 4 August 2010) was an Australian politician and later Adjunct Professor of Law at Deakin University.

Kennan earned a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne. He was a member of parliament between 1982 and 1993, initially in the Victorian Legislative Council, and then in the Legislative Assembly as the member for Broadmeadows and was Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1990 to 1992.

After the defeat of the Labor Party Government at the 1992 state election, and the later retirement of leader Joan Kirner in March 1993 he became the Leader of the Opposition until his shock retirement from Parliament three months later. He was succeeded as leader and member for Broadmeadows by a former member of the Legislative Council, John Brumby.

Jim Kennan is the last ALP leader who did not become Premier.

He worked as a Senior Counsel in the Victorian legal system, most notably representing Jack Thomas at his re-trial on terrorism charges in late 2008.

Death

Kennan died on 4 August 2010, aged 64, after a battle with cancer.

References

Victorian Legislative Council
Preceded by Dolph Eddy	Member for Thomastown Jun 1982 – Aug 1988	Succeeded by seat abolished
Political offices
Preceded by John Cain	Attorney-General of Victoria 8 Sep 1983 – 13 Dec 1987	Succeeded by Andrew McCutcheon
Preceded by Andrew McCutcheon	Attorney-General of Victoria 2 Apr 1990 – 5 Oct 1992	Succeeded by Jan Wade
Victorian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Jack Culpin	Member for Broadmeadows Oct 1988 – Jun 1993	Succeeded by John Brumby
Party political offices
Preceded by Joan Kirner	Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Victoria 1993	Succeeded by John Brumby