Powerful AWU boss Bill Ludwig has died, aged 87

Former Queensland union heavyweight Bill Ludwig, who played a key role in shaping politics in Queensland for more than 25 years, has died.

Bill Ludwig helped put numerous Queensland Labor politicians into George Street, kept prime minister Bob Hawke in The Lodge for an extra six months, and played a key role in shaping Queensland’s political contours for more than a quarter of a century.

That old cliche – “we won’t see his like again’’ – has a particular resonance in the case of the tough union boss who died in Brisbane on April 11 aged 87 surrounded by family.

As the influence of unions declines, it’s unlikely we will ever again see that sort of power wielded in that sort of manner.

William Patrick Ludwig might be said to have been a quintessential Queenslander.

Born in 1934, he attended the Marist Brothers College in Brisbane’s Ashgrove before heading west to go shearing.

It was an experience he clearly enjoyed.

Once, in a nod to the title of a famous Henry Lawson poem, he described his youthful exploits as a shearer as “my roaring years’’.

It wasn’t until 1971 that he became an employee of the Australian Workers Union and he was well into middle age (48) when he was elected in 1982 as South Western District Secretary of the Queensland branch of the AWU.

When Queensland branch secretary Errol Hodder left to take up a national role with the AWU, “Big Bill’’ Ludwig took over as branch secretary and was soon exerting extraordinary influence across the state as head of a 60,000 strong union.

Bill Ludwig (right) with former prime minister Bob Hawke in 2005

When Paul Keating launched his challenge against Bob Hawke for the prime ministership in June 1991, Mr Ludwig declared: “Anyone who puts their hands up for Paul Keating or against Bob Hawke in a caucus vote will die.’’

He didn’t mean it literally.

In fact he walked back his words soon after, explaining that the recalcitrant Labor MPs who defied his orders would die only in a political sense.

But it was indicative of his formidable powers of persuasion that Hawke stayed put for a few more months until Keating finally won through towards the end of 1991 and became leader of the Labor Party on December 19, 1991.

Mr Ludwig was, without question, intimidating, but also possessed of a keen sense of humour which could sometimes take the edge of the confrontations which he seemed to enjoy.

He could command both fear and respect as Queensland Labor Party conferences, confronting opponents publicly on the conference floor as a show of strength and a demonstration of exactly who was in charge.

Even as union membership began to decline Mr Ludwig still wielded power as a member the ALP national executive.

His contribution was recognised formally in the 1997 Australia Day Honours for services to industrial relations.

He also held positions on various boards such as Queensland Racing.

Mr Ludwig is survived by two children, three grandchildren and a great grand son.

Son Joseph Ludwig, a lawyer, was a Queensland ALP senator from 1999 until 2016.

Then AWU national president Bill Ludwig in one of the last photos taken of the Tree of Knowledge at Barcaldine before it was poisoned in 2006