Keith Pitt
Australian politician (born 1969)
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Keith John Pitt (born 31 August 1969) is an Australian diplomat and former politician. He is a member of the National Party and represented the Division of Hinkler in Queensland between the 2013 federal election and January 2025. He was a member of cabinet in the Morrison government as Minister for Resources and Water and also served as an assistant minister in the Turnbull government. He was an electrical engineer and businessman before entering politics. On 16 February 2025 Pitt was appointed Australian Ambassador to the Holy See.[2] He presented his credential letters to Pope Leo XIV on 3 June 2025.[3]
Keith Pitt | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ambassador of Australia to the Holy See | |
| Assumed office 3 June 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Chiara Porro |
| Minister for Resources and Water[a] | |
| In office 6 February 2020 – 23 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Matt Canavan |
| Succeeded by | Madeleine King (Resources) Tanya Plibersek (Water) |
| Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister | |
| In office 5 March 2018 – 28 August 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Luke Hartsuyker |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Gee |
| In office 18 February 2016 – 19 July 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Michael McCormack |
| Succeeded by | Luke Hartsuyker |
| Assistant Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism | |
| In office 19 July 2016 – 20 December 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Richard Colbeck (as Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment) |
| Succeeded by | Luke Hartsuyker |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Hinkler | |
| In office 7 September 2013 – 19 January 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Neville |
| Succeeded by | David Batt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Keith John Pitt 31 August 1969 |
| Party | National |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal National Party of Queensland |
| Spouse | Allison |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Queensland University of Technology |
| Occupation | Electrical engineer, businessman, farmer |
Early life
Pitt was born in Bundaberg, Queensland.[1] He grew up in Woongarra and attended Kepnock State High School before taking up an electrical apprenticeship.[4][5] He went on to the Queensland University of Technology, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Engineering.[1]
Pitt worked as an electrical fitter mechanic before joining Bundaberg Sugar as an electrical engineer. He later served as the company's group safety co-ordinator.[1] In 2002, he established the Australian Safety and Training Alliance, a workplace health and safety training provider.[6] He and his wife also purchased two sugarcane farms, one bought in 1998 and one in 2004, but they were sold to concentrate on the training business.[5]
Parliamentary career
In December 2012, Pitt won the Liberal National Party of Queensland's preselection ballot for the Division of Hinkler, following the retirement of incumbent MP Paul Neville.[7] He had been a member of the LNP for only six months prior to his selection, and stated that his victory in the ballot was a surprise.[8] He retained Hinkler for the party at the 2013 federal election and like Neville sits with the Nationals in federal parliament. He was re-elected at the 2016 and 2019 federal elections.[1]
Pitt served as the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister between February and July 2016, following a rearrangement in the First Turnbull Ministry.[9][10] With the reelection of the Turnbull government in 2016, Pitt served as the Assistant Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism between July 2016 and December 2017 in the Second Turnbull Ministry.[11] He returned as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister from 5 March to 28 August 2018.[12]
In February 2020, following the resignation of Matt Canavan, Pitt was reappointed to the ministry as Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia in the Second Morrison Ministry.[1][13] He reportedly supported Michael McCormack against Barnaby Joyce in the preceding Nationals leadership spill.[14] He contested the party's vacant deputy leadership against David Littleproud and David Gillespie, with Littleproud emerging victorious.[15]
In December 2024, Pitt announced he would be quitting parliament, criticising party leader David Littleproud for being "too obedient" to the Liberal Party.[16] He resigned on 19 January 2025.[17]
Political views
In December 2017, Pitt was one of only four members of the House of Representatives to vote against the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017, which legalised same-sex marriage in Australia.[18]
Described as "one of the government's most outspoken advocates for nuclear power", Pitt quit as assistant minister in August 2018 to demonstrate his opposition to the government commitment to the Paris Agreement on emission reductions. He has been described as "one of the key drivers" behind a 2019 parliamentary inquiry into nuclear power which "recommended the government consider adding the energy technology to its future energy mix".[6]
Pitt is a monarchist.[19]
Australian Ambassador to the Holy See
Pitt was appointed Ambassador to the Holy See on the 16 February 2025.[20] Archbishop Timothy Costelloe President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference "welcomed" the appointment.[2] The start of his term was delayed by the illness and death of Pope Francis.[21] He presented his credential letters to Pope Leo XIV on 3 June 2025.[3]
Personal life
Pitt has three children with his wife Allison.[5]