Keith Pitt

Early life Pitt was born in Bundaberg, Queensland. He grew up in Woongarra and attended Kepnock State High School before taking up an electrical apprenticeship. He went on to the Queensland University of Technology, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Engineering. 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. 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. 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. 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. He returned as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister from 5 March to 28 August 2018.

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. He reportedly supported Michael McCormack against Barnaby Joyce in the preceding Nationals leadership spill. He contested the party's vacant deputy leadership against David Littleproud and David Gillespie, with Littleproud emerging victorious.

In December 2024, Pitt announced he would be quitting parliament, criticising party leader David Littleproud for being "too obedient" to the Liberal Party. He resigned on 19 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) Bill 2017, which legalised same-sex marriage in Australia.

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".

Australian Ambassador to the Holy See Pitt was appointed Ambassador to the Holy See on the 16 February 2025. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference "welcomed" the appointment. He presented his credential letters to Pope Leo XIV on 3 June 2025.

Personal life Pitt has three children with his wife Allison.