JOEL Fitzgibbon was in front of the cameras at Kooragang Island yesterday, talking down the chances of any sort of cataclysmic explosion of the Orica ammonium nitrate plant, in the wake of such a tragedy in Beirut earlier this month.
As it happened, Mr Fitzgibbon was already juggling political dynamite - or so it seemed - after suggesting the Labor Party risked splitting if it couldn't reconcile the conflict between its working class and socially progressive halves.
His comments have been interpreted as an attempt by the dominant Right faction to bring pressure to bear on Labor leader Anthony Albanese, whose inner city Left background puts the two MPs on supposedly opposite sides of the fence.
But nothing is ever straightforward in Labor factional politics and Mr Fitzgibbon and Mr Albanese are politicians cut from somewhat similar cloth, despite their factional differences.
Mr Fitzgibbon is far and away the Hunter Region's most experienced politician.
Indeed, with 24 years in Canberra under his belt he's one of our most senior federal representatives, full stop.
FITZGIBBON FILE:
-
I'll run as federal Labor leader says 'centrist' Fitzgibbon
-
Electorate 'not ready' for Labor agenda, Joel says in wake of 2019 defeat
-
Labor committed to coal, says Joel
-
MPs view: mistake to write off the coal industry
Elected to parliament in 1996 - and taking over a seat his father, Eric Fitzgibbon, had held since 1984, Mr Fitzgibbon was on the front bench in opposition by 1998.
He's been close to virtually every federal Labor leader with the exception of Julia Gillard, and having risen to the position of national convener of the ALP's dominant Right faction, he has access to substantial power, behind the scenes, should he choose to wield it.
It is possible that he is using that power now, with what appear to be "freelance" musings on the party's direction.
He declined to be drawn on the subject when asked during his Orica appearance with NSW Senator Deborah O'Neill yesterday, intimating that it was already old news.
Which may be a sign that he was slapped down by an angry Mr Albanese.
Or it may be that having thrown those leaves to the wind, they were both happy to see where they landed.
It should be remembered, too, that Mr Fitzgibbon has been making similar comments on and off for years, representing, as he does, an electorate where the coal miners may still outnumber the latte-sippers.
Either way, it's a split the Coalition government will be only too happy to keep on exploiting, if a fix can't be found.
ISSUE: 39,392.
IN THE NEWS:
- Joel Fitzgibbon says Labor may need to split to survive
- Paedophile expose The Altar Boys by former ABC Lateline journalist Suzanne Smith hits the shops today
- Qantas cuts 6000 jobs, reports $2 billion hit in 'toughest-ever six months'
- Why Green means go for Kalyn Ponga
- Four Newcastle suburbs in trial of new late-night liquor rules
- Trev's GYTAMS conduct winter 5am swim training sessions through COVID-19 restrictions at Merewether Ocean Baths
