Prior to announcing his intention to run for parliament, Pitt was head of the Queensland Government's Indigenous Jobs and Enterprises Taskforce. He had previously led the government's business and skilled migration program.
Bligh Government
Pitt was elected to the seat of Mulgrave, standing for the Labor Party, at the 2009 state election with a 48.51% primary vote and a two-candidate preferred vote of 58.08. During his first term, Pitt was Deputy Government Whip and was appointed to the Bligh Ministry in the February 2011 reshuffle as Minister for Disabilities, Mental Health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. During his time in cabinet, he oversaw the launch of the Learning Earning Active Places strategy to close the gap for the nearly 80 per cent of Queenslanders who live in urban and regional areas who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders. In 2011 he also released 'Just Futures', the Queensland Government's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice strategy to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system. During NAIDOC 2011, he launched the 'Deadly Stories' campaign. As Minister for Disability Services, he released 'Absolutely Everybody' – Queensland's ground breaking 10-year disability strategy, as well as the Carer Action Plan 2011–14, which focuses on the varying needs of carers. He also introduced the Forensic Disability Act 2011 and the Forensic Disability Service which provides a therapeutic model of support for those people on forensic orders with a sole diagnosis of intellectual or cognitive impairment. He was also a member of the COAG Select-Council working with the Australian Government to lay the foundations for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. As Queensland's first Minister for Mental Health, he jointly launched the anti-stigma campaign 'Change Our Minds', followed soon after by the launch of a new mental health community services plan "Supporting Recovery 2011–2017". He also led the development of the first Mental Health Commission for Queensland – another major mental health reform which was later adopted in-part by the Newman LNP Government.
Opposition (2012–2015)
Pitt was re-elected at the 2012 state election, albeit with his primary vote down 14.51 percentage points and his two-party share reduced to 51.45%. Following the election, which resulted in a severely reduced caucus of seven members, Pitt was appointed Leader of Opposition Business and given the following shadow ministerial portfolios: Treasury and Trade; Energy and Water Supply; Main Roads; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Sport and Recreation. After two portfolio reshuffles following by-election wins by Yvette D'Ath and Anthony Lynham, Pitt became Shadow Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Trade, Energy and Water Supply, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. He retained the role of Leader of Opposition Business in the Parliament.
