RE: Good for FALCON6 Feb 2020 21:21
The Murray-Darling Basin, whose plan Mr Pitt is now responsible for, does not run through his electorate, which has been seized on by critics and supporters of the Nationals MP.
“It’s good that new water minister Keith Pitt’s electorate is outside the Murray-Darling Basin,” South Australian Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick said.
“The MDB must be managed in the national interest, not just the interests of large upstream irrigators.”
South Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young tweeted: “Another Queensland National’s politician given the job of Water Minister. RIP the Murray-Darling Basin.”
Mr Pitt has worked as an electrical apprentice, tradesman, engineer and farmer and in 2002 started the Australian Safety and Training Alliance, which teaches workplace health and safety courses.
Keith Pitt on …
Same-sex marriage
Mr Pitt was one of four MPs that voted against same sex marriage.
Speaking at the time, he said: “I did not support the legislation because I believe it does not adequately address the concerns of many in my electorate around religious freedoms, parental choice and the right for parents to raise their children as they see fit.”
However, Mr Pitt’s vote was at odds with his electorate of Hinkler that ultimately voted ‘yes’ in the postal survey.
Mr Pitt told parliament he found himself in a challenging position because there were only 1101 votes separating yes (40,649) from no (39,548) in his seat.
Paris Agreement
In August 2018, Mr Pitt resigned from the assistant ministry in protest over Australia’s participation in global action on climate change.
“I have today advised the Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister of my decision to resign from the ministry. It has been a great privilege to serve the Australian people, particularly in a role which delivers much needed infrastructure to the regions. However, I will always put the national interest and the interests of my constituents above my own. I will always put reducing power prices, before Paris.”
Nuclear
Mr Pitt has long argued for the government to consider nuclear energy and in July 2019, he called for an “adult conversation” on the issue.
“Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you would have heard the discussions around nuclear energy once again being put forward in the media and other places,” he said. “Once again I say to those opposite, to those who are here in the room: we are looking for an adult conversation on a difficult issue. However, in Queensland we know the state Labor government is unable to do that.
“In fact, Minister Dick came out last week and talked about three-headed turtles, about glowing animals and all sorts of things. I’d say to the minister: spend less time watching The Simpsons and more time informing yourself.”
A month later, following the launch of a parliamentary inquiry into nuclear power, Mr Pitt said:
“Australia is one of the few developed nations which is not using nuclear as an ener
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