Keith Pitt uses odd phrase as he offers support to Nationals leader Michael McCormack
Keith Pitt backed his Nationals leader with the phrase used by Scott Morrison ahead of Malcolm Turnbull’s demise.
Resources Minister Keith Pitt has declared he is ambitious for Nationals leader Michael McCormack, mirroring the phrase used by Scott Morrison ahead of Malcolm Turnbull’s demise.
Asked about speculation over Mr McCormack’s leadership on Wednesday, the Queensland MP said “constant navel-gazing is in no-one’s interest”.
“My ambition is for the Nationals, is for our leader, it is for the people I represent. I am ambitious for the resources sector. I am ambitious for those in the Murray-Darling basin, I’m ambitious for northern Australia, I’m ambitious for all Australians,” Mr Pitt said.
“But we are delivering for regional Australia as we have done for over 100 years. The Nationals have been a party that stand up for the regions, they’ll continue to do so. And Minister McCormack, the Deputy Prime Minister has my full support.”
Mr Pitt, who has impressed senior government figures and Nationals colleagues since his elevation to Cabinet in February, said “right now I am focused on the people of Australia”.
“I’m focused on our response to the pandemic. I am focused on what we do around the health response and economic response. And I think there is a great future for Australia,” he said.
“There is hope for all Australians and we will ensure we deliver for them.”
At the joint Coalition party-room meeting on Tuesday, the Prime Minister told government MPs to maintain their “complete focus” on the Australian people and spoke of the need for “unity and discipline” to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr McCormack and deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud held a press conference in Canberra on Wednesday announcing an ACCC probe into Australia’s domestic food supply chains.
“I’m glad that he’s ambitious for me. I’m sure Keith is ambitious for the people he represents in Hinkler. I’m sure he’s representing that fine state of Queensland,” Mr McCormack said.
Mr Littleproud declined to say he was also ambitious for his leader, but declared there would be no leadership change and that he has had a “gutful” of his colleagues’ backgrounding.
“These silly games haven’t stopped … you might be bored with COVID-19, but we’re not,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Everyone’s needs to take a cold shower and get back to what we’re here for. The National Party is not changing their leader.
“It might titillate you, but we don’t give a rat’s … we’ve had a gutful.”
Mr Littleproud has ramped up his media profile in recent weeks, focusing particularly on issues facing border communities. The Agriculture Minister has conducted at least 11 press conferences and media interviews in the past week alone.
Mr McCormack said he would lead the Nationals to the next election, and praised Mr Littleproud’s performance as deputy leader but declined to nominate the Agriculture Minister as his preferred successor.
“Well, we’re here together. David and I are great mates, we’ve been mates ever since we got into the parliament … the focus for David and I is the people we serve,” he said.
“That will be a matter for the party room. I’ve always said the leadership of the Nationals is a matter for the party room.”
On August 22, 2018, days before Mr Turnbull was forced out following a challenge by Peter Dutton, Mr Morrison appeared alongside the former prime minister and said: “This is my leader and I’m ambitious for him”.
Mr Pitt on Wednesday said the Nationals remained “focused on the people we represent”.
He also launched a strong defence of coal-fired power amid moves by Labor and the Greens to scuttle funding for a feasibility study into a proposed clean coal-fired power station in Collinsville.
“Federal Labor, and by default Queensland Labor, do not support jobs in central Queensland, they don’t support the resources sector.”
“In Queensland we know that Ken O’Dowd and George Christensen, and Michelle Landry stand for coal. They support the resources sector. And that was strongly reflected at the last election.”
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