Con Sciacca farewelled at state funeral

"Man of the people" Con Sciacca has been laid to rest following a state funeral in Brisbane.

Dignitaries from both sides of the political aisle converged on St Stephen's Cathedral on Friday to pay their respects to the former Labor minister.

Former prime minister Paul Keating, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk all attended, together with former premiers Peter Beattie and Campbell Newman.

Mr Sciacca, a veterans affairs minister in Mr Keating's government, was remembered for his love for his family and his ability to see beyond political differences.

Friend and former Liberal minister Santo Santoro described him as "the ultimate man of the people".

"It did not matter to him where we came from," he said during his eulogy.

The former Member for Bowman in Brisbane's southeast died on June 21 aged 70, after a long battle with cancer.

He is survived by his wife Karen, daughter Zina, stepsons Nicholas and Daniel Toth and extended family.