By BRETT LACKEY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 14:16 GMT, 7 February 2025 | Updated: 14:31 GMT, 7 February 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will appoint a former coalition cabinet minister and fierce critic of some of his most prized policies to a sought-after diplomatic post.

Outgoing Nationals MP Keith Pitt is expected to be announced as the new ambassador to the Holy See.

The position will work to advance Australia’s interests at the Vatican with Mr Pitt able to take up the role after announcing his retirement as the member for Hinkler last month.

He hinted when announcing his resignation on January 17 that there was a new job on offer, with the appointment reportedly having been quietly in the works for months. 

‘I’m wishing Peter Dutton all the best in 2025, but I’ve got a very unexpected opportunity,’ he said.

‘My wife has asked me every week since I started, why am I still doing this? And I’ve finally got to the point where I’ve said, well actually it’s time to let someone else have a go.’

The 65-year-old went to a Catholic school and was one of only four members of the House of Representatives to vote against the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2017.

He is also an outspoken advocate of coal and nuclear power and frequently took aim at Labor’s policies to focus on wind and solar generated electricity.

Keith Pitt, has been appointed as ambassador to the Holy See. The coalition MP has been a fierce critic of many of Anthony Albanese’s policies

Pitt has been at loggerheads with Nationals leader David Littleproud, who he claimed didn’t stand his ground against the Liberals enough, and considered trying to oust him as party leader.

But instead he will jet off to Europe for the new role in a matter of weeks following former Holy See ambassador Chiara Porro’s resignation on November 29.

Among the issues he had with Mr Littleproud was that coal power wasn’t being backed enough and he was not fighting the Liberals’ commitment to the net zero emissions target by 2050.

The Morrison-era minister fired a parting shot at his own party as he announced his retirement.

‘The bucket of frustration has now tipped over for me’ Mr Pitt said.

‘There are some substantial policy decisions that have been taken that I disagree with.’

Mr Pitt will fly with his wife to Europe in the next few weeks to take on the Vatican role

Mr Pitt will fly with his wife to Europe in the next few weeks to take on the Vatican role 

Mr Albanese will announce the appointment in the next few days (pictured during a Parliamentary church service on February 4)

Mr Albanese will announce the appointment in the next few days (pictured during a Parliamentary church service on February 4)

He argued the commitment to the net zero emissions target ‘and subsequent green policies have to be paid for and this ‘was hurting the wallets of regional communities’ yet there ‘is literally zero impact on the temperature of the planet’.

A raft of coalition MPs have announced their retirement in recent months ahead of the federal election which must be held before May 17.

Simon Birmingham, Paul Fletcher, David Gillespie, Warren Entsch, Gavin Pearce, Rowan Ramsey, Linda Reynolds and Karen Andrews won’t be running for their seats when Australians go to the polls.

Mr Pitt’s seat of Hinkler, near Bundaberg and Hervey Bay in Queensland, has been a safe Nationals seat since Labor lost control of it in 1993.

Anthony AlbanesePeter Dutton

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Anthony Albanese makes a very surprising pick for Australia’s new ambassador to the Vatican

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