Ministerial Address

Keith was born into a local farming family in 1969. By that time, the Pitt and Roebuck families had been part of the Wide Bay-Burnett community for two generations.

Educated at Kepnock State High School in Bundaberg, Keith undertook an electrical apprenticeship and was named Queensland Electrical Apprentice of the Year. He went on to complete a Bachelor degree in computer and electrical engineering at the Queensland University of Technology.

Keith’s first full time job was at Fairymead Sugar Mill. Keith and his wife Allison purchased their first cane farm in 1998, followed by a second farm in 2004.

Keith established the Australian Safety & Training Alliance in 2002, going on to train over 10,000 local students from more than 1,000 businesses.

Due to the demands of their growing business, both cane farms were sold. Keith’s family continues to grow cane and run a substantial harvesting business.

An active member of the Hinkler community, Keith was a surf lifesaver for over 10 years. Through his business, Keith supported a wide variety of local community groups and events. Keith also plays touch football and enjoys fishing when holidaying at the family’s Woodgate holiday home.

Keith and Allison have three children; one at Shalom College and one at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School.

In September 2013, following the retirement of long serving MP Paul Neville, Keith was elected to represent the Hinkler Electorate in the Australian Parliament. He has been a voting member on Parliamentary Joint Standing Committees: Infrastructure and Communications (now communications and the arts); Defence Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Privileges and Members’ Interests.

In February 2016, Keith became the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, taking responsibility for a range of policy areas such as natural resource management and the Landcare program, soil health, animal welfare, rural skills and central Queensland water.

In July 2016, Keith successfully retained the seat of Hinkler in the Federal Election and was appointed as Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment.

In March 2018, Keith was appointed as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack. He resigned from this position in August 2018.

In February 2020, Keith was appointed as the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia.