Anthony Albanese's leadership is under strain after Joel Fitzgibbon's departure from the frontbench exposed the party's split over climate policy, as well as broader concerns about Labor's strategy in taking on the government.

Mr Fitzgibbon, who has been arguing Labor needed a more conservative climate change policy to win back blue collar workers and form government, had planned to leave the frontbench next month under a factional deal crunched 18 months ago.