Fitzgibbon quits Labor frontbench over energy policy tension
Senior Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon has quit the shadow cabinet and will move to the back bench after an internal brawl on energy policy.
Joel Fitzgibbon is headed for the Labor backbench. Photo: AAP/Mick Tsikas
The outspoken right faction heavyweight has urged his party to support gas and coal jobs over ambitious climate change action.
Fitzgibbon’s stunning resignation leaves the opposition’s agriculture and resources portfolios open as the Labor Party desperately tries to claw back ground in regional Australia.
“This morning I went to see my mate, Anthony Albanese, and informed him that I was stepping down from the shadow cabinet effective immediately,” he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.
“I’ve also just shared that news with the caucus, where Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles generously paid tribute to my contribution. Although, I reminded them that I’m not going anywhere.”
Fitzgibbon said he had no regrets about speaking out about climate change and energy policies over the past 18 months.
-AAP
