Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is battling to contain discontent in his party, fuelled by regional MP Joel Fitzgibbon predicting Labor was headed for a split unless it shifted to the right, especially on energy policy.

Mr Fitzgibbon, who has been agitating since last year's election for Labor to support the Coalition's less ambitious climate change targets, believes the party could separate unless it learns how to appeal to both the blue-collar vote and that of the progressive Left.