Keith Pitt

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = His Excellency The Honourable

| name = Keith Pitt

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Keith Pitt Portrait 2013.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| office = Ambassador of Australia to the Holy See

| status =

| term_start = {{date|03 June 2025|DMY}}

| office1 = Minister for Resources and Water{{efn|Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia until 2 July 2021.}}

| primeminister1 = Scott Morrison

| term_start1 = {{start date|2020|02|06|df=y}}

| term_end1 = 23 May 2022

| predecessor1 = Matt Canavan

| successor1 = Madeleine King (Resources) Tanya Plibersek (Water)

| office2 = Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister

| primeminister2 = Malcolm Turnbull
Scott Morrison

| term_start2 = {{start date|2018|03|05|df=y}}

| term_end2 = {{end date|2018|08|28|df=y}}

| predecessor2 = Luke Hartsuyker

| successor2 = Andrew Gee

| term_start3 = 18 February 2016

| term_end3 = 19 July 2016

| predecessor3 = Michael McCormack

| successor3 = Luke Hartsuyker

| office4 = Assistant Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism

| primeminister4 = Malcolm Turnbull

| term_start4 = 19 July 2016

| term_end4 = 20 December 2017

| predecessor4 = Richard Colbeck {{small|(as Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment)}}

| successor4 = Luke Hartsuyker

| constituency_MP5 = Hinkler

| parliament5 = Australian

| term_start5 = 7 September 2013

| term_end5 = 19 January 2025

| predecessor5 = Paul Neville

| successor5 =

| birth_name = Keith John Pitt

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|8|31|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia

| party = National

| otherparty = Liberal National Party of Queensland

| spouse = Allison

| children = 3

| alma_mater = Queensland University of Technology

| occupation = Electrical engineer, businessman, farmer

| predecessor = Chiara Porro

}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Former MP Keith Pitt selected as Australia's new Ambassador to the… |url=https://melbournecatholic.org/news/former-mp-keith-pitt-selected-as-australias-new-ambassador-to-the-holy-see |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Melbourne Catholic |language=en-AU}} He presented his credential letters to Pope Leo XIV on 3 June 2025.{{Cite web |title=Credential Letters of the Ambassador of Australia to the Holy See |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/06/03/250603b.html |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=Holy See Press Office}}

Early life

Pitt was born in Bundaberg, Queensland.{{Cite Au Parliament |name=Mr Keith Pitt MP |mpid=148150 |access-date=15 November 2021}} He grew up in Woongarra and attended Kepnock State High School before taking up an electrical apprenticeship.{{cite news|url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansardr/aec24641-694d-4aba-adb3-c0e00179d7a4/0073%22|title=Maiden speech|work=Hansard|publisher=Parliament of Australia|date=14 November 2013|access-date=11 July 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://minister.awe.gov.au/pitt/biography|title=The Hon Keith Pitt MP: Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia|publisher=Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment|access-date=11 July 2020}} He went on to the Queensland University of Technology, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Engineering.

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. In 2002, he established the Australian Safety and Training Alliance, a workplace health and safety training provider.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/nuclear-paris-and-a-return-to-cabinet-who-is-keith-pitt/news-story/ac1225c7faea9e679d6c6a0924951710|title=Nuclear, Paris and a return to cabinet: Who is Keith Pitt?

|newspaper=The Australian|date=6 February 2020|access-date=11 July 2020}} 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.

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/businessman-wins-race-hinkler/1644099/|title=Businessman wins preselection for Hinkler|date=2 December 2012|newspaper=Sunshine Coast Daily|access-date=11 July 2020}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.qt.com.au/news/hinkler-lnp-candidate-will-unite-electorate/1708871/|title=Hinkler LNP candidate 'will unite' electorate|newspaper=Queensland Times|date=8 January 2013|access-date=11 July 2020}} 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.

Pitt served as the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister between February and July 2016, following a rearrangement in the First Turnbull Ministry.{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cabinet-reshuffle-malcolm-turnbull-announces-new-frontbench-as-mal-brough-resigns-20160213-gmta7z.html |title=Cabinet reshuffle: Malcolm Turnbull announces new frontbench as Mal Brough resigns |work=The Age |date=13 February 2016 |access-date=13 February 2016 |author=Massola, James}}{{cite web |url=http://gg.gov.au/events/ministerial-swearing-ceremony-0 |title=Ministerial Swearing-in Ceremony |work=Events |publisher=Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia |date=18 February 2016 |access-date=19 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301170128/http://gg.gov.au/events/ministerial-swearing-ceremony-0 |archive-date=1 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite news|first=Stephanie|last=Anderson|title=Election 2016: Malcolm Turnbull unveils ministry with Christopher Pyne, Greg Hunt on the move|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-18/malcolm-turnbull-unveils-new-look-ministry/7638492|newspaper=ABC News|date=20 July 2016|access-date=22 July 2016}} He returned as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister from 5 March to 28 August 2018.{{cite press release|quote=The Hon Keith Pitt MP returns to the Ministry as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister.|url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/changes-ministry|title=Changes to the Ministry|date=1 March 2018|publisher=Government of Australia|author=Turnbull, Malcolm|author-link=Malcolm Turnbull|access-date=6 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305202715/https://www.pm.gov.au/media/changes-ministry|archive-date=5 March 2018|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite news |last=Barbour |first=Lucy |date=6 February 2020 |title=David Littleproud returns to agriculture as Nationals change jobs in Scott Morrison's new-look frontbench |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-06/nationals-into-cabinet-at-scott-morrison-reshuffles-frontbench/11932374 |work=ABC |location=Canberra |access-date=February 6, 2020 }} He reportedly supported Michael McCormack against Barnaby Joyce in the preceding Nationals leadership spill.{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/industry-urges-pitt-to-keep-his-foot-on-the-gas-20200206-p53yfw|title=Industry urges Pitt to keep his foot on the gas|quote="Mr Pitt, who declined requests for comment yesterday, was one of several supporters of Nationals leader Michael McCormack to be rewarded with a promotion in the ministerial reshuffle following Barnaby Joyce's unsuccessful leadership coup on Tuesday."|newspaper=The Australian Financial Review|date=6 February 2020|access-date=11 July 2020|first=Philip|last=Coorey}} He contested the party's vacant deputy leadership against David Littleproud and David Gillespie, with Littleproud emerging victorious.{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/littleproud-wins-after-rebuffing-joyce-offer-20200204-p53xj2|title=Littleproud wins after playing it smart|newspaper=The Australian Financial Review|date=4 February 2020|access-date=11 July 2020|first=Andrew|last=Tillett}}

In December 2024, Pitt announced he would be quitting parliament, criticising party leader David Littleproud for being "too obedient" to the Liberal Party.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/nationals-mp-keith-pitt-quits-politics/ar-AA1wb51r|title=Nationals MP Keith Pitt quits politics|website=MSN|publisher=Sky News Australia|date=20 December 2024}} He resigned on 19 January 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-23/by-election-unlikely-for-hinkler-seat-after-pitt-resignation/104750828|title=By-election unlikely for Hinkler seat after Keith Pitt officially resigns|publisher=ABC News|date=23 January 2025|access-date=23 January 2025}}

=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) Act 2017, which legalised same-sex marriage in Australia.{{cite web|title=House of Representatives Hansard Thursday, 7 December 2017|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/716f5e71-dee3-40a3-9385-653e048de81b/toc_pdf/House%20of%20Representatives_2017_12_07_5783.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf|access-date=8 December 2017|ref=102}}

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".

In a May 2021 interview with Sky News Australia presenter, Tom Connell, Pitt declined to admit that batteries could provide dispatchable power to back up electricity generated by a wind farm.{{Cite web|title='Clarke and Dawe': Keith Pitt refuses to say a battery can back up a windfarm| website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MVg3v8zwCY|access-date=2021-05-11 |date=2021-05-10}}

Pitt is a monarchist.{{Cite interview |last=Pitt |first=Keith |interviewer=David Speers |title=Interview with Nationals MP for Hinkler Keith Pitt |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-27/interview-with-nationals-mp-for-hinkler-keith-pitt/104523324 |access-date=2024-10-27 |work=Insiders |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |place=Brisbane |date=2024-10-27}}

Australian Ambassador to the Holy See

Pitt was appointed Ambassador to the Holy See on the 16 February 2025.{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2025 |title=Ambassador to the Holy See |url=https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/ambassador-holy-see |access-date=February 20, 2025}} Archbishop Timothy Costelloe President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference "welcomed" the appointment. The start of his term was delayed by the illness and death of Pope Francis.{{Cite web |last=Ransley |first=Ellen |date=2025-04-22 |title=Grief grips globe at passing of the people’s pontiff |url=https://editions.thenightly.com.au/ccidist-replica-reader/?epub=https://editions.thenightly.com.au/ccidist-ws/the_nightly/the_nightly/issues/16679/#/pages/3 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=The Nightly |publisher=Seven West Media |pages=3-4 |language=en}} He presented his credential letters to Pope Leo XIV on 3 June 2025.