MP Keith Pitt’s exit from politics lays bare National Party turmoil

Keith Pitt’s retirement announcement has reignited tensions in the Nationals party room, with sources saying the veteran MP and Nats leader David Littleproud did not get on.

The sudden departure of a veteran MP has reignited tensions in the Nationals party room, with rivals of David Littleproud seizing on the opportunity to launch into their leader.

Keith Pitt, who has been the member for Hinkler in Queensland since 2013, took a swipe at Mr Littleproud when announcing his retirement from politics on Friday, urging him to “stand up and be strong”.

Multiple sources claim Mr Pitt had grown frustrated with Mr Littleproud’s leadership, with one claiming it was “an open secret they didn’t get on”.

Colleagues say Mr Pitt also believed the Coalition had taken an “eternity” to unveil its nuclear strategy, leaving insufficient time before the election to sell their message on a complicated and provocative issue.

It’s understood many conservative Nationals, including Mr Pitt, remain furious over the fallout of a 2021 party room vote on whether to support Net Zero by 2050.

National Party leader David Littleproud. Picture: Martin Ollman

“There was supposed to be a giant support package for the bush if we agreed. Many of the promised projects have disappeared,” said one MP.

“David should be out there fighting for them.”

Veteran Nationals MP Keith Pitt is retiring from politics. Picture: Richard Gosling

Responding to Mr Pitt’s criticism, Mr Littleproud said: ‘Keith has been part of The Nationals party room this term, that was the first to lead the ‘No’ case against the Voice, the first party room to lock in divestiture as Coalition policy, locked the Coalition into a regulated vaping model and the first to lead the Coalition to adopt nuclear energy.’

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was more generous, telling Nine: “He’s an incredibly smart guy.

“He’s frustrated at being on the backbench, I understand that. He’s made an enormous contribution as a Minister.

“He’s a good friend of mine.”

Coalition insiders insisted there was no issue between Mr Dutton and Mr Littleproud.

Mr Pitt, the former Resources Minister in the Morrison government, was not offered a shadow portfolio when Mr Littleproud beat Barnaby Joyce for the leadership after the 2022 election.

“David did the numbers against Barnaby and got over the line by promising little known Nats positions on the frontbench. It’s not difficult to figure out who they are’ they said.

Others claim there is “zero appetite” to move on Mr Littleproud, although he will be judged by the party’s performance at the next federal election.

When asked if Mr Littleproud was “standing up enough for the regions”, Barnaby Joyce told Sky: “I think David is doing the best job that he can. David is going as hard as he can.”

In further issues for the Nationals on Friday, video emerged of prominent Senator Matt Canavan claiming the Coalition’s nuclear policy was a “political fix”.

“Nuclear is not going to cut it. I mean, we’re as guilty of this too — we’re not serious… we’re latching on to it as a silver bullet, as a panacea because it fixes a political issue for us,” Mr Canavan told the National Conservative Institute podcast.

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