EDITION 58, MARCH 2014
Gordonvale Boy Does Good Treasurer Curtis Pitt MP with his father Warren, Governor Paul de Jersey and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Treasurer Curtis Pitt with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the first Caucus meeting last week. (SOURCE: Fairfax Media)
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In 2009 Curtis Pitt was elected as the Member for Mulgrave, succeeding his father Warren who retired after holding the seat for almost 20 years. Fast forward to 2015 and Mr Pitt is now the Treasurer of Queensland, arguably the second most powerful person in the State aside from the Premier. Over the past six years, Mr Pitt's work in the Queensland Parliament has earned him the respect of both sides of politics, rapidly rising through the ranks as the Deputy Government Whip and then became a Cabinet Minister during his first term. As well as undertaking the important role of State Treasurer, he's also been tasked with being Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister for Aboriginal andTorres Strait Islander Partnerships. "I was the Minister for Indigenous Partnerships when we were last in office but always thought the role should be held by a senior Minister, which is why I asked for it now that I'm Treasurer," Mr Pitt said. "There are some real challenges ahead, in particular getting our young people aged 15-24 back into the workforce with our youth unemployment rate hovering over 20% for some time now. “I’m absolutely humbled by the faith that voters in the Mulgrave electorate have shown in me, and although my new responsibilities may stretch me across Queensland, I will still work hard as the local Member for Mulgrave. Mr Pitt is a proud former student of both Gordonvale State School and Gordonvale High where he attend with his sister Dionne. His father Warren currently teaches at Gordonvale State School where Curtis's son Tristan now also attends. Curtis and his wife Kerry will this year celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary. They have had four children - Isabel (deceased), five year-old Tristan, three year-old Layla, and two year-old Kobi. Curtis has a long history of community involvement including having been and auxillary firefighter with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service. Curtis is also a member of the Edmonton Lions Club, and the Gordonvale RSL Citizens’ Auxillary. Curtis is also the Patron of many organisations including the Innisfail PCYC, Edmonton and District Tennis Club, the Mulgrave Historical Society and the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support Queensland. Curtis is also a keen sportsperson and has played competition tennis, as well as cricket, basketball and rugby league. Prior to being appointed as the member for Mulgrave Curtis worked in the public service for 6 years and lead the Queensland Governments Indigenous Jobs and Enterprise taskforce. Although his new role as state treasurer will take him all over the state, Curtis will still make his home Gordonvale.
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