MP issues warning to Albanese

BILL Shorten has learned his lesson after being dragged to the left before Labor’s shock 2019 election loss, according to backbencher Joel Fitzgibbons.

Mr Shorten took a thinly veiled swipe at successor Anthony Albanese (below) on Sunday, saying Labor needed to “stand for something” and could not win the next election with a “tiny” policy agenda.

The speech came as Mr Shorten launched a collection of essays by members of Labor’s right faction and echoed comments made by Mr Fitzgibbon since last year. Mr Fitzgibbon quit the frontbench in November, arguing the party had lost touch with its blue-collar base and faced defeat if it continued to focus too heavily on climate change.

“(Mr Shorten) was encouraged in the interest of collective unity to be taken to policy positions, very progressive positions, both on climate change and on wealth redistribution, which did him and the party significant harm,” Mr Fitzgibbon told Sky News. “He’s expressing frustration that we’re not now doing better.”

Labor leader Mr Albanese. however, denied he was frustrated by the speech, saying he would take a “good Labor agenda” to the next election.

“Bill Shorten launched a book. Labor Party people write books. Labor Party people launch books. We’re the party of ideas,” he told reporters on Monday.

Mr Fitzgibbon denied the timing of the speech, delivered in the midst of speculation over Mr Albanese’s leadership, would sow divisions in the party.

“I hope it drives us toward a point of unity and agreement on the things that will matter so much when the next election comes around,” he said.