Joel Fitzgibbon gives Anthony Albanese visit to his NSW electorate a miss

Anthony Albanese visited the NSW Hunter Valley on Thursday but the region’s most senior MP, Joel Fitzgibbon, visited a school and childcare centre instead.

Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon. Picture: Milan Scepanovic

Anthony Albanese visited the NSW Hunter Valley on Thursday but the region’s most senior MP, Joel Fitzgibbon, rebuffed his Labor leader in favour of visiting a school and childcare centre.

The Australian understands the Opposition Leader’s office last week invited the outspoken resources spokesman to campaign in the electorate of Newcastle with Mr Albanese. The electorate is next door to Mr Fitzgibbon’s seat of Hunter.

Mr Fitzgibbon told Mr ­Albanese’s office he had prior engagements.

Mr Albanese was joined by other Hunter Valley Labor MPs including Paterson MP Meryl Swanson, Shortland MP Pat Conroy and Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon. Mr Fitzgibbon instead visited Mulbring Public School and a childcare centre in Glendale, both in his seat.

Mr Fitzgibbon has been a controversial figure in the party since the election over his outspoken backing of coal and gas, and freelancing on climate policy. Mr Albanese defended the resources spokesman when asked if the Hunter MP was in danger of losing the former Labor stronghold to the Nationals. Labor suffered a primary vote swing against it of 14.5 per cent at the federal election last year as One Nation increased its vote by 21.6 per cent. On a two-party-preferred basis Mr Fitzgibbon holds the seat by a 3 per cent margin from the Nationals.

“I will back Fitzy every single time. He’s a strong local representative,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Fitzgibbon said: “I would have been happy to join Albo but my electorate always comes first and I had long ago committed myself to visit a primary school and an early education centre. Education in the early years is a key policy focus for me”.