Biography for LUDWIG, the Hon. Joseph William
Senator for Queensland
Australian Labor Party
Parliamentary Service
Elected to the Senate for Queensland 1998 (term began 1.7.1999), 2004 and 2010.
Ministerial Appointments
Minister for Human Services from 3.12.07 to 9.6.09.
Special Minister of State from 9.6.09 to 14.9.10.
Cabinet Secretary from 9.6.09 to 14.9.10.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry from 14.9.10.
Minister Assisting the Attorney-General on Queensland Floods Recovery from 26.1.11.
Committee Service
Senate Standing: Publications from 9.8.99 to 4.10.00; Regulations and Ordinances from 9.8.99 to
1.7.02; Selection of Bills from 17.8.00 to 11.2.02 and from 1.7.02; Procedure from 13.2.02 to
15.11.04, from 7.9.05 to 11.12.05 and from 14.5.08; Library from 1.7.02 to 15.11.04.
Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Legal and Constitutional: References Committee
from 9.8.99 to 1.7.02, from 4.12.03 to 1.3.04 and from 1.7.05 to 11.9.06 and Legislation
Committee from 1.7.02 to 11.5.05; Legal and Constitutional Affairs from 11.9.06 to 11.2.08;
Finance and Public Administration: References Committee from 1.3.04 to 15.11.04.
Senate Select: Ministerial Discretion in Migration Matters from 23.6.03 to 31.3.04.
Joint Statutory: Australian Crime Commission from 1.7.05 to 27.3.07.
Joint Standing: Treaties from 9.8.99 to 1.7.02.
Conferences, Delegations and Visits
Member, Joint Standing Committee on Treaties visit to New Zealand, March 2000.
Official visits to USA, February 2004; New Zealand, August 2008; UK, Ireland and Belgium,
January 2009.
Parliamentary Party Positions
Deputy Opposition Whip in the Senate from 17.8.00 to 22.11.01.
Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate from 25.11.01 to 3.12.07.
Manager of Government Business in the Senate from 3.12.07.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Attorney-General from 25.11.01; and Parliamentary
Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Homeland Security from 8.12.03 to 26.10.04.
Member, Opposition Shadow Ministry from 22.10.04 to 3.12.07. Shadow Minister for Justice and
Customs from 26.10.04 to 9.3.07; Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs from 26.10.04 to 24.6.05;
Shadow Attorney-General from 9.3.07 to 3.12.07.
Party Positions
Member, ALP from 1978.
Convener, ALP Economic and Industrial Relations Committee 1993-96; Convener, Employment,
Training and Industrial Relations Committee 1996-99.
Member, ALP Rules Committee 1998-2005.
Personal
Born 21.7.1959, Longreach, Qld.
Married.
Qualifications and Occupation before entering Federal Parliament
BA (Qld), LLB (Qld University of Technology).
GradDipLegalPrac (ANU).
Management and Industrial Relations Certificate (Kangaroo Point TAFE).
Barrister.
Cadet Industrial Inspector 1978-80; Assistant Industrial Inspector 1980-82; Industrial Inspector
1982-88.
Training consultant 1988.
Industrial Advocate, Australian Workers' Union (Qld) 1988-93; Senior Industrial Advocate 1993-
99.
Justice of the Peace from 1997.
Military Service
49 Royal Queensland Regiment (Reserve).
2nd Lieutenant 5/11 Field Regiment Royal Australian Artillery (Reserve).
Queensland University Regiment (Reserve).