1989 - Bruce Wilson and Bill Ludwig ran on joint ticket as Secretary (Wilson) and President (Ludwig) of the AWU.   Ludwig got up, Wilson didn't.  Wilson was sacked from his job as an organiser in WA - Ludwig appointed him as a National Organiser based on Perth.   They were very close.

An understanding of the Ludwig/Wilson/Gillard relationship is central to understanding the AWU Scandal.

Read more in this BRW magazine article "Portrait of a Man, Portrait of a Union".

The 1989 Ludwig/Wilson joint ticket pamphlets are here:

Download Election brochure 1 Download Election brochure 2

May 1991 - Wilson appointed AWU WA Secretary with Ludwig's support along and Gillard's help on the legal details - background and 3 Federal Court Judgements here.

Gillard's first legal work for Wilson was controversial to say the least - she gave advice on how to unseat the incumbent AWU state secretary so Wilson could take his job.

Here's Gillard in her departure interview describing what she did to advance Wilson's personal interests against those of Keenan and Isherwood then representing the AWU.

25 November, 1991 - Carmen Lawrence's WA Labor Government directly awards Thiess the Dawesville Channel contract overturning tender process.

January 20-24 1992 - AWU 106th Annual Conference in Sydney - Bruce Wilson & Bill Ludwig present.    Nick Jukes & Thiess CEO Martin Albrecht attended to make a presentation.   Wilson states the 4 of them met to discuss the Dawesville project and a "separate legal entity" to hold the "training funds" that flowed through to Wilson's AWU WRA Inc.

This from The Australian Worker (AWU Newspaper)

6 March 1992  - ad in the West Australian newspaper for AWU WRA Inc

16 March, 1992 - letter signed by Joe Trio on behalf of Nick Jukes to AWU WRA re $300K in monthly payments over 3 year term of Dawesville Channel project - reflects Wilson's statement.

22 April 1992 - Ralph Blewitt signs Application to incorporate AWU WRA 

22 April 1992 - Thiess processes first invoice from AWU WRA Inc - $25,272.00

23 April 1992 - Application to incorporate lodged with Corporate Affairs Commission - fee of $75 payable on lodgement.

27 April 1992 - Thiess draws cheque paying AWU WRA $25,272

4 May 1992 - Commonwealth Bank paperwork to set up accounts for the AWU WRA Inc signed by Blewitt and Wilson

5 May 1992 - $25,272 cheque from Thiess deposited into cash management account

15 May, 1992 Corporate Affairs boss Ray Neale writes back with suggested new Rule 3A

16 May, 1992 (Saturday) Gillard in Boulder WA with Bruce Wilson to argue case for Wilson taking on Fatal Accident and Death Fund - one of the arguments was to safeguard it from fraud!

22 April 1992 - Ralph Blewitt signs Application to incorporate AWU WRA 

22 April 1992 - Thiess processes first invoice from AWU WRA Inc - $25,272.00

23 April 1992 - Application to incorporate lodged with Corporate Affairs Commission - fee of $75 payable on lodgement.

27 April 1992 - Thiess draws cheque paying AWU WRA $25,272

4 May 1992 - Commonwealth Bank paperwork to set up accounts for the AWU WRA Inc signed by Blewitt and Wilson

5 May 1992 - $25,272 cheque from Thiess deposited into cash management account

13 May 1992 - Julia Gillard writes to Corporate Affairs Commission after notice the association was ineglible for incorporation.  Gillard urges incorporation.

15 May 1992 - Corporate Affairs Commission letter to Gillard - the Association will be incorporated - subject to a letter promising a rule change within 30 days of incorporation.

21 May 1992 - Gillard writes to Blewitt instructing him to write to the Commission promising a rule change.

26 May 1992 - Blewitt writes out cheque to himself for $156.83 and one for $22 to the Corporate Affairs Commission, the fee for a Ministerial Review of Application for Incorporation.

27 May 1992 - Blewitt cheque presented

29 May 1992 - Corporate affairs cheque presented

24 June 1992 - The AWU-WRA Inc was incorporated

29 June 1992 - Bruce Wilson appointed Victoria Branch AWU Secretary after serious allegations of fraud and misconduct against incumbent Vic Branch Secretary Bob Smith One (not later Bob Smith appointed in 1994/5).   Police involved, Smith took leave without pay.   Ludwig involved in installing Wilson

August 1992 - Serious allegations of misconduct against Bruce Wilson circulating  within the Victoria Branch.   "Shit sheets" like these circulate.

October 1992 - Angelo Palma brings legal proceedings in the Federal Court against Wilson to unseat him.  Julia Gillard works alongside Bill Ludwig's law firm Sciacca and Associates in response.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/FCA/1992/519.html

Here's Bruce Wilson's affidavit (sworn in Brisbane before Bill LUDWIG's lawyer)

Download Bruce Wilson Affidavit bob smith one 

Here's Bruce Wilson's letter to the man who brought the action, it was an exhibit in his affidavit, he clearly knew all about fraud.   

Download Bruce Wilson letter to PALMA 

And this is the "shit sheet" that set out some in the union's view of Wilson.   This was released at about the time that Wilson asked Gillard to incorporate the AWU-WRA.   She only has herself to blame.   Keep in mind she later sued other union members who tried to hold Blewitt to account.

Download Bruce wilson bob smith one shit sheet

The chronology from this point ties in directly to the new information pointing to who was knowingly involved in the incorporation of the AWU WRA Inc.

At present the Trade Union Royal Commission will report it was only Blewitt and Wilson.

Back soon with more details.