Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to announce outgoing Nationals MP Keith Pitt as Australia’s next ambassador to the Holy See.
The surprise diplomatic move comes after the Morrison-era minister announced in December that he would not recontest his seat of Hinkler at the coming federal election, citing frustrations with the Nationals’ approach to climate policy.
At the time, he also alluded to an “unexpected opportunity” that had come up.
In January he formally resigned with immediate effect, leaving the safe Nationals seat vacant.
Fellow National and former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer was Australia’s first ambassador to the Vatican, serving between 2008 and 2012.
Over the course of his term so far, Mr Albanese has already made a handful of diplomatic appointments, including former prime minister Kevin Rudd as ambassador to the United States and former defence minister Stephen Smith as high commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Mr Pitt was the resources and water minister under former prime minister Scott Morrison.
A new member for Hinkler in Queensland will be elected this year, in a poll scheduled on or before May 17.
Mr Pitt has been contacted for comment.
