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.