Queensland Speaker of the House Curtis Pitt will temporarily step down to address mental health issues, citing divorce, depression and inflammatory bowel disease.
State Labor MP for Mulgrave, Mr Pitt will take time to focus on his mental health, a few days after he missed a regional parliamentary sitting in Cairns.
“I’m not doing as well emotionally as I’ve made out to anyone,” he announced via Instagram on Saturday afternoon.
“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.”
Beset by worries
Mr Pitt said his parents’ serious health issues and his work as a five-term MP, regional minister and Speaker had taken a toll.
“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 wrote.
Mr Pitt said his period of leave would begin on Tuesday after finalising some matters within his office.
“I hope that people can be understanding of my circumstances and of this decision,” he wrote.
-AAP
