Joel Fitzgibbon

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Joel Fitzgibbon

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Defense.gov photo essay 080716-F-6655M-007 (cropped).jpg

| imagesize =

| smallimage =

| caption = Fitzgibbon in 2008

| office1 = Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

| term_start1 = 2 July 2013

| term_end1 = 18 September 2013

| primeminister1 = Kevin Rudd

| predecessor1 = Joe Ludwig

| successor1 = Barnaby Joyce

| office2 = Chief Government Whip in the House

| primeminister2 = Julia Gillard

| predecessor2 = Roger Price

| successor2 = Chris Hayes

| term_start2 = 27 September 2010

| term_end2 = 14 May 2013

| office3 = Minister for Defence

| term_start3 = 3 December 2007

| term_end3 = 4 June 2009

| primeminister3 = Kevin Rudd

| predecessor3 = Brendan Nelson

| successor3 = John Faulkner

| constituency_MP4 = Hunter

| parliament4 = Australian

| predecessor4 = Eric Fitzgibbon

| successor4 = Daniel Repacholi

| term_start4 = 2 March 1996

| term_end4 = 11 April 2022

| majority4 =

| birth_name = Joel Andrew Fitzgibbon

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1962|1|16}}

| birth_place = Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = Dianne

| children = 3

| nationality = Australian

| father = Eric Fitzgibbon

| relatives = Lachlan Fitzgibbon (nephew)

| party = Labor

| website = {{URL|https://www.joelfitzgibbon.com/}}

}}

Joel Andrew Fitzgibbon (born 16 January 1962) is a retired Australian politician. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has served in the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2022, representing the New South Wales seat of Hunter. He served as Minister for Defence (2007–2009) in the first Rudd government and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (2013) in the second Rudd government. He was also Chief Government Whip in the House of Representatives (2010–2013) in the Gillard government.

Fitzgibbon succeeded his father Eric in federal parliament. He is aligned with the Centre Unity faction in NSW, part of the federal Labor Right faction.{{cite web |title=Labor's new-look shadow ministry |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/labor-s-new-look-shadow-ministry/e1629c15-7e65-4aec-aa27-3ee6a1cea0bb |website=SBS News |publisher=Special Broadcasting Service |access-date=31 October 2021}}{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-factions-engineer-deal-to-keep-joel-fitzgibbon-pat-conroy-in-parliament-20160115-gm6mrp.html |title=Labor factions engineer deal to keep Joel Fitzgibbon, Pat Conroy in Parliament |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=15 January 2016 |author1=Gartrell, Adam |access-date=16 January 2016}} Since the 2019 election, he has become a vocal critic of stronger climate change policies, calling a potential 2030 target "delusional",{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/09/labor-left-blasts-joel-fitzgibbon-for-publicly-undermining-party-policy|title=Labor left blasts Joel Fitzgibbon for publicly undermining party policy|newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 November 2020|last1=Murphy |first1=Katharine }} and claiming that any embrace of more ambitious policies will alienate working-class support of Labor.{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-11/canberra-revolving-door-of-political-leaders-albanese-fitzgibbon/12871760|title = Canberra's revolving door of political leaders is creaking again| newspaper=ABC News |date = 11 November 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/listen-to-joel-fitzgibbon-albanese-facing-unrest-over-his-leadership-20201110-p56db0.html|title='Listen to Joel Fitzgibbon': Albanese facing unrest over his leadership|date=10 November 2020}}

Early life

Fitzgibbon was born on 16 January 1962 in Bellingen, New South Wales.{{cite Au Parliament |mpid=8K6 |name=The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP |access-date=2021-11-06}} He is the son of Anne and Eric Fitzgibbon. His father, a schoolteacher, served as mayor of Cessnock and was elected to federal parliament in 1984.{{cite news|url=https://www.singletonargus.com.au/story/2838607/dad-was-a-great-father-and-political-mentor-joel-fitzgibbon/|title=Dad was a great father and political mentor: Joel Fitzgibbon|newspaper=Singleton Argus|date=25 January 2015|access-date=12 June 2021|first=Rod|last=Thompson}}

Fitzgibbon attended All Saints College, Maitland.{{cite news|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2013/12/20/labors-frontbench-too-is-a-mostly-private-school-affair/|title=Labor's frontbench, too, is a mostly private-school affair|publisher=Crikey|date=20 December 2013|access-date=10 June 2021|first=Dylan|last=Barber}} He worked as an automotive electrician from 1978 to 1990, operating a small business. He completed a graduate certificate in business administration at the University of Newcastle and was also a part-time TAFE lecturer.

Political career

Fitzgibbon served on the Cessnock City Council from 1987 to 1995, including as deputy mayor from 1989 to 1990. He was a vice-president of the ALP's Cessnock branch and served as a delegate to state conference. From 1990 he worked as an electorate officer for his father.

=Early career in federal politics=

Fitzgibbon won ALP preselection for the seat of Hunter following his father's retirement prior to the 1996 federal election. He suffered a seven-point swing in 1996, but has been re-elected with little trouble since then, with the exception of the 2013 election, where his margin was significantly reduced. He was elected to the opposition shadow ministry in October 1998 and was appointed Shadow Minister for Mining, Energy and Forestry in 2003–05. In June 2005 he was appointed shadow assistant treasurer and shadow minister for revenue and for small business and competition. In early December 2006, when Kevin Rudd became leader of the opposition, Fitzgibbon was appointed shadow minister for defence. He was subsequently appointed minister for defence when Labor won office at the 2007 federal election.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/29/2105169.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201080838/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/29/2105169.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 December 2007|title=Rudd hands out portfolios|work=ABC News|location=Australia|date=29 November 2007|access-date=26 January 2015}}

=Minister for Defence=

File:Defense.gov photo essay 080716-F-6655M-007.jpg]]

In 2008 Fitzgibbon expressed dissatisfaction with an unclassified briefing he received on an assessment of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). He subsequently ordered and received a classified report that addressed his concerns, and then expressed confidence in the JSF project.{{cite interview|title=Joel Fitzgibbon joins Lateline|url=http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2008/s2373459.htm |work=Lateline|first=Joel|last=Fitzgibbon|interviewer=Leigh Sales|type=Interview: transcript|date=24 September 2008 |publisher=ABC TV|access-date=2 July 2013}} In the same interview, he denied any personal involvement in the Australian Federal Police (AFP) raid on the home of Canberra Times' journalist Philip Dorling, although he did not guarantee that his department had not contacted the AFP. Dorling was accused of receiving confidential cabinet documents intended for Fitzgibbon.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24389814-661,00.html|title=Police raid home of Canberra Times journalist Philip Dorling|work=Herald Sun|date=23 September 2008|agency=AAP|author=Veness, Peter|access-date=26 January 2015}}

On 22 October 2008, Fitzgibbon instructed the Department of Defence to cease debt recovery procedures against SAS soldiers who had been accidentally overpaid. A subsequent audit by KPMG discovered that the soldiers' pay continued to be docked after the ministerial instruction.{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/govt-reveals-sas-pay-bungle-details-20090331-9hv5.html |title=Govt reveals SAS pay bungle details |author=Blenkin, Max |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=31 March 2009 |access-date=2 July 2013 |agency=AAP}}

In May 2009, Fitzgibbon announced a new defence white paper titled Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-02/australia-can-afford-100b-defence-plan-fitzgibbon/1669802|title=Australia can afford $100b Defence plan: Fitzgibbon|publisher=ABC News|date=2 May 2009|access-date=16 May 2020}}

==Controversy==

File:U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks with U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon.jpg and Admiral Mike Mullen]]

On 26 March 2009, Fairfax Media reported that officers in the Department of Defence had conducted a covert and unauthorised investigation into Fitzgibbon's friendship with a Chinese-Australian businesswoman in the belief that it constituted a security risk. This was alleged to have included officers from the Defence Signals Directorate accessing the computer network in Fitzgibbon's office to obtain the woman's bank details.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/26/2526603.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231051454/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/26/2526603.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 December 2012|title=Defence investigating Fitzgibbon spying claims|last=Rodgers|first=Emma|date=26 March 2009|work=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=26 March 2009}}{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/defence-leaks-dirt-file-on-own-minister-20090325-9ahq.html?page=-1|title=Defence leaks dirt file on own minister|author1=Baker, Richard|author2=Dorling, Philip|author3=McKenzie, Nick|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=26 March 2009|date=26 March 2009}} The department launched an urgent inquiry into the reports. Nick Warner, the Department's Secretary, stated that he had not seen any information to confirm the claims and that there were no circumstances in which secret investigations into Ministers could be authorised.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/26/2527247.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327165630/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/26/2527247.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 March 2009 |title='No information' to support Fitzgibbon spy claims |last=Rodgers |first=Emma |date=26 March 2009 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |access-date=26 March 2009}} Fitzgibbon was reported to be "furious" about the investigation, and suggested that it may have been conducted by officials opposed to his reforms to the Australian Defence Organisation.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/reforms-behind-liu-leak-minister-20090326-9bt7.html|title=Reforms behind Liu leak: minister|last=Snow|first=Deborah|date=26 March 2009|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=26 March 2009}}

Fitzgibbon resigned as Minister for Defence on 4 June 2009 after admitting that meetings held between his brother Mark Fitzgibbon, the head of the health fund NIB, and Defence officials concerning business opportunities had breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct.{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/04/2589300.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716123402/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/04/2589300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2012|title=Fitzgibbon resigns as Defence Minister|last=Rodgers|first=Emma|date=4 June 2009|work=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=4 June 2009}}

In 2013, Fitzgibbon reflected on his term as Defence Minister and said that the defence chiefs had an obsession for the JSF and had refused to consider other alternatives.{{cite news|url=http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/1314430/defence-chiefs-obsessed-with-troubled-fighter-jet-fitzgibbon|title=Defence chiefs 'obsessed' with troubled fighter jet: Fitzgibbon|date=20 February 2013|author=Lester, Tim|work=The Border Mail|location=Australia|access-date=2 July 2013}}

=43rd Parliament=

Following his re-election in the 2010 federal election, Fitzgibbon was elected by the Labor caucus as chief government whip.{{cite web|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fallmps%2F8K6%22|title=Biography for FITZGIBBON, the Hon. Joel Andrew|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=6 May 2011}}

Following the June 2013 Labor leadership spill, Fitzgibbon was appointed as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Second Rudd ministry.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-01/kevin-rudds-frontbench/4791002 |title=Kevin Rudd's new-look ministry|publisher=ABC News |date=2 July 2013 |access-date=2 June 2016}}

==2015 proposed abolition of Hunter==

In 2015 the Australian Electoral Commission announced plans to abolish the federation seat of Hunter. Due to changing populations, overall New South Wales was to lose a seat while Western Australia was to gain an extra seat. Electors in the north of Hunter were to join New England. The roughly 40 percent remainder were to become part of Paterson, with the Liberal margin calculated to be notionally reduced from 9.8 to just 0.5 points as a result. Since the commission's guidelines require it to preserve the names of original electorates where possible, the commission proposed renaming Charlton to Hunter.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-16/electoral-commission-to-abolish-federal-nsw-seat-of-hunter/6860172 |title=Australian Electoral Commission to abolish Federal NSW seat of Hunter |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=16 October 2015}}{{cite news |url=http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2015/10/16/draft-federal-redistribution-of-new-south-wales/ |title=Draft federal redistribution of New South Wales |work=Poll Bludger, Crikey |date=16 October 2015}}{{cite news |work=The Age |date=16 October 2015 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labors-joel-fitzgibbon-loses-his-seat-in-redistribution-by-australian-electoral-commission-20151016-gkar7q.html |title=Labor's Joel Fitzgibbon loses his seat in redistribution by Australian Electoral Commission}}

The final plan, however, saw Charlton abolished, with Hunter pushed slightly eastward to absorb much of Charlton's former territory.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2016/guide/hunt/ |title=Hunter |work=ABC Election Guide 2016 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |author=Green, Antony |author-link=Antony Green}} While most of the new Hunter's voters come from the old Charlton, as previously mentioned, Commission guidelines required the name of Hunter to be retained.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nsw-federal-redistribution-2015/ |title=NSW federal redistribution 2015 |work=ABC News |location=Australia}} The Labor incumbent for Charlton, Pat Conroy, opted to contest neighbouring Shortland in order to allow Fitzgibbon to contest the new Hunter.

=2019 election and aftermath=

In the 2019 federal election, Fitzgibbon suffered a 9.5-point swing against him in his electorate, reducing his margin to just 3 points. After the election, he was a vocal critic of his party's direction, claiming that "Labor must reconnect with its blue-collar base and get back to the centre". He stated that he was considering running in the leadership ballot if other candidates do not "show more interest in regional Australia".{{cite news |title=Joel Fitzgibbon says he will not rule out running for Labor leadership|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/joel-fitzgibbon-says-he-will-not-rule-out-running-for-labor-leadership/news-story/ca765978cd308f7cb360c88c1c071953|publisher=news.com.au|date=20 May 2019|access-date=21 May 2019}}{{cite news |title=Joel Fitzgibbon: I may run for Labor leader|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/joel-fitzgibbon-i-may-run-for-labor-leader/news-story/d8a137e6a95abb887e5b310a1fa2e552|publisher=news.com.au|date=20 May 2019|access-date=21 May 2019}} He later endorsed Anthony Albanese as leader, who won unopposed. In November 2020, Fitzgibbon announced that he was quitting the shadow cabinet, a response to moves by Labor's Left Faction to push for more action on climate change which, he believes are "delusional."{{Cite news|last=James|first=O'Doherty|date=10 November 2020|title=Joel Fitzgibbon quits: 'Labor's lost touch with working people'|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/joel-fitzgibbon-quits-labor-frontbench-over-climate-fight/news-story/6b6d464492ee50db9d482562c6ce271f|access-date=10 November 2020}}

In September 2021, Fitzgibbon announced his retirement at the next election, claiming that he has been successful in bringing back the Labor Party to the political centre.{{cite news |title=Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon to quit politics, taking parting swipe at 'idealist' progressives|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/13/labor-mp-joel-fitzgibbon-to-quit-politics-taking-parting-swipe-at-idealist-progressives|work=The Guardian|date=13 September 2021|access-date=13 September 2021}}

Post-politics

In November 2022, Fitzgibbon was appointed as the interim CEO of the Australian Forest Products Association, effective from February 2023.{{cite web|url=https://ausfpa.com.au/departure-of-chief-executive-officer-of-the-australian-forest-products-association-in-february-2023-hon-joel-fitzgibbon-appointed-interim-ceo-from-february-2023/|title=Departure of Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association in February 2023; Hon Joel Fitzgibbon appointed Interim CEO from February 2023|publisher=Australian Forest Products Association|date=22 November 2022|access-date=18 May 2023}}

On 6 March 2024, Fitzgibbon's son, Jack Fitzgibbon, died as a result of a parachuting accident at RAAF Base Richmond while serving as a lance corporal in the 2nd Commando Regiment.{{cite web |title=Son of ex-MP Joel Fitzgibbon dies in defence parachuting accident |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/nsw/son-of-ex-mp-joel-fitzgibbon-injured-in-defence-parachuting-accident-20240307-p5fan3.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed |publisher=WA Today}}{{cite news |last1=Link |first1=Madeline |title='Heartbroken': Former MP's son dies in ADF parachute accident |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8548058/former-mp-joel-fitzgibbons-son-killed-in-adf-parachuting-mishap/?cs=14329 |access-date=7 March 2024 |work=The Canberra Times |date=7 March 2024 |language=en-AU}}

Fitzgibbon's daughter, Grace, is a journalist with Seven News Sydney.{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/grace-fitzgibbon-pays-tribute-to-lance-corporal-jack-fitzgibbon-after-fatal-army-accident/news-story/9dd6fdadf8c47ac97844bf7da77250f9|title=Grace Fitzgibbon pays tribute to Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon after fatal army accident|publisher=news.com.au|date=8 March 2024|accessdate=18 March 2024}}

Political positions

As the Labor Shadow Agriculture spokesman, Fitzgibbon opposed the Government's decision to stop the sale of S. Kidman & Co as "political" and accused it of running a "discriminatory foreign investment regime".{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-21/joel-fitzgibbon-slams-'political'-block-of-kidman-and-co-sale/6960944|author=Stephanie Anderson|title=Opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon slams 'political' decision to block Kidman & Co sale – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=21 November 2015|access-date=14 August 2017}}

Fitzgibbon served as the convenor of the NSW Right faction in federal parliament.{{cite web |last1=Bramston |first1=Troy |title=Factional warfare creates Right old mess in search for a leader with a winning chance |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/factional-warfare-creates-right-old-mess-in-search-for-a-leader-with-a-winning-chance/news-story/1f76ae55c3313239fb494d4d8a79fa79 |website=The Australian |publisher=News Corp |access-date=30 May 2019}}

Legacy

Joel Fitzgibbon was lampooned by Clarke and Dawe for agitating for a leadership contest against then-PM Julia Gillard.[https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/entertainment/videos/top-10-john-clarke-interviews/ "Government Whip Joel Fitzgibbon who had been agitating for a leadership spill against Prime Minister Julia Gillard"] Clarke's portrayal of Fitzgibbon trying to distract the interviewer by invoking cats and owls was particularly noted in Clarke's obituaries as a "golden moment".[

https://www.vice.com/en/article/farnarkeling-in-heaven-rip-john-clarke/ There are too many golden moments to choose from. Clarke as Joel Fitzgibbon telling Dawe that some birds are cats and that “the owl is often regarded as the cat of the air, Brian.”]