Joel Fitzgibbon to retire from parliament

Joel Fitzgibbon will reportedly quit federal parliament at the next election after months of internal Labor speculation about his future. The MP's exit will potentially leave his Hunter seat vulnerable – which Mr Fitzgibbon has held since 1996, after inheriting it from his father. The veteran MP has reportedly told colleagues he believes he has largely succeeded with his campaign to return the Labor Party's focus to Australia's working class.