Queensland Speaker Curtis Pitt to take leave, citing mental health

Queensland Speaker Curtis Pitt will take leave to prioritise his mental health, he announced days after missing the start of a regional sitting of parliament in his home town.

Pitt, 46, became the subject of tabloid speculation last week when he slept in and missed the opening of the parliamentary sitting in Cairns.

Speaker Curtis Pitt has revealed his mental health struggles, annoucing a period of leave.Credit: Chris Hyde

A Welcome to Country ceremony was delayed as attempts were made to locate Pitt, but eventually got under way without him. Pitt showed up about half an hour later.

On Saturday, the Speaker and Member for Mulgrave revealed he was battling depression, along with other health issues that needed to be addressed.

“A number of issues have converged at this point in my life. I’m not doing as well emotionally as I’ve made out to anyone,” Pitt said.

“A lengthy divorce after more than two decades of marriage, an underlying medical condition in ulcerative colitis, suffering from depression, and requiring ongoing medication for my back — for which I am scheduled to have surgery soon.”

Pitt said both his elderly parents also had serious health issues, adding to his stress.

The Cairns-based MP has served five parliamentary terms, which have included ministerial stints overseeing treasury, sport, employment and industrial relations, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships.

Pitt said things had simply become too much of late.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to take a period of time off for my mental health to get well and to do my job to the best of my abilities,” he said.

“I owe that to my colleagues, the Parliament and to my electorate.

“This period will commence as of Tuesday next week after I finalise some matters with my office. I hope that people can be understanding of my circumstances and of this decision.”

If you or anyone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.