MPs call on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to remove Curtis Pitt from role of Speaker

Annastacia Palaszczuk has taken a shot at Labor MPs as an explosive internal revolt brews amid calls to remove Speaker Curtis Pitt.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has thrown her support behind Speaker Curtis Pitt, amid calls from several senior MPs that he must be removed from his high-profile role immediately.

While MPs are banned under parliamentary rules from speaking publicly against the revered position of Speaker several have privately raised their alarm with the Courier-Mail, saying the controversies are “a blight on the institution”.

On Wednesday, the Premier confirmed there are “no discussions” afoot to replace him, as she shot a veiled warning to Labor MPs to stop sniping and let their colleague recover.

It had been speculated high-level Labor factional meetings were being held in an attempt to come to a decision on the best course of action — with some leaning to Acting Speaker Joe Kelly or Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to replace Mr Pitt in the role.

Ms Palaszczuk said there were “no discussions” among senior Labor figures about Mr Pitt’s future in the role.

She declined to “reflect on the Speaker” but noted he had outlined he was battling “a number of issues”.

“And I think that every member of my government would expect the same courtesy sent to them,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“If any of those backbenchers were going through a similar ordeal, I would extend them the same courtesy to recover.”

Speaker of the House and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt appeared unwell during the regional sitting of Queensland parliament, held at the Cairns Convention Centre in May. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Pitt has been on leave since last Wednesday afternoon after slurring his words throughout the morning parliamentary sitting – something he later claimed was due to taking medication for severe back pain. He has denied being intoxicated.

Several senior MPs have told The Courier-Mail they were horrified the Premier had not intervened to remove him.

“Palaszczuk can’t continue this,” they said. “He’s bringing the office into disrepute and it reflects badly on all MPs.

“Curtis needs to have time to sort himself out.”

Another said Mr Pitt is “in the driver’s seat of parliament”, and “this wouldn’t cut it in another workplace”.

And a third said “he’s got to go but the Premier won’t budge because it will look bad for her to lose a Labor Speaker”.

“In the meantime (Ms Palaszczuk’s) parliament is a rabble and she won’t do anything about it,” they said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is under pressure from some quarters to take action. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Following last Wednesday morning’s appearance, Mr Pitt said via a statement “as a consequence of my ongoing medical issues, I have decided to take a further period of leave”.

“I am suffering from severe back problems and will soon be undertaking scheduled surgery,” he said.

“Consequently, I am taking strong pain relief medication on an as-required basis to manage this condition which can at times, manifest in different ways, including the onset of drowsiness.”

This incident last week was the second time Mr Pitt’s parliamentary conduct has been in the spotlight, after he was 30 minutes late to a sitting of regional parliament in Cairns in May.

He took leave following that incident, posting a statement on social media he was “not doing as well emotionally as I’ve made out to anyone”.

He also pointed to a divorce, his parents’ health issues and dealing with a medical condition called ulcerative colitis.

Last Tuesday – Budget Day – was the first time he had returned to work since the May incident.

Sources at Parliament House also revealed Mr Pitt was spotted leaving the House late Friday afternoon wearing tracksuit pants and a hoodie – two days after he took leave.

The Courier-Mail understands the Labor Party is holding high-level factional meetings in an attempt to come to a decision on the best course of action – with some leaning towards installing Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, while Acting Speaker Joe Kelly is also being considered as a replacement.

Labor backbenchers were also reportedly angry that the furore over Mr Pitt had taken the shine off Budget week.

But Treasurer Cameron Dick was brief when asked on Tuesday in Townsville whether Mr Pitt’s actions were a distraction from the government’s budget announcements.

“No,” he said.

Asked whether he supported Mr Pitt staying on as Speaker, Mr Dick said “yes”.

Education Minister Grace Grace – who is the leader of Mr Pitt’s faction, The Old Guard – said “health and wellbeing are very important and we wish him the very best” when asked about the situation.

Mr Pitt – who is paid more than $320,000 – is on medical leave and will be undertaking previously scheduled back surgery in July, a spokesman said, adding that a period of recovery and rehabilitation will follow.

“The Speaker continues to receive assistance for mental health and ulcerative colitis conditions and will follow medical advice and recommended treatment in order to return to full health,” the spokesman said.

“This may require the Speaker to take at least three more sitting days of leave in August and, subject to medical advice, aims to return to parliament in September.

“The Speaker is grateful for the numerous messages of support he has received from MPs on both sides of the House.”