HE may have been the Member for Hunter for 20 years, but it’s fair to say that many voters in the electorate don’t know Labor’s incumbent Joel Fitzgibbon.
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That’s because the electorate of Hunter has undergone a major redistribution in the lead up to the July 2 poll.
The Hunter electorate boundary change has seen it gain a large portion of the now-abolished seat of Charlton, which was held by Labor’s Pat Conroy.
Mr Conroy has since shifted seats to contest Shortland, which was vacated by Labor’s incumbent Jill Hall.
The change means that much of western Lake Macquarie – including the urban strip from Morisset to Toronto – is now part of Hunter.
So who is Joel Fitzgibbon? And what do locals need to know about their local member?
Mr Fitzgibbon, 54, is the son of Eric Fitzgibbon, the Member for Hunter from 1984 to 1996.
A former Cessnock councillor, Mr Fitzgibbon was Defence Minister in former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s first ministry, from 2009, and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the second Rudd ministry.
He is now Opposition spokesperson for the Agriculture and Rural Affairs portfolios.
Mr Fitzgibbon told the Lakes Mail his motivation to achieve public office was sparked early in his life.
“I was raised in a family in which a premium was placed on opportunity and a fair go, the same values which drew me to the Australian Labor Party,” he said.
“I cut my teeth in local government where I energetically tackled disadvantage and infrastructure-neglect in my local community.
“It didn’t take me long to realise that my fight for better jobs and jobs’ security, good services and good roads, and a fair go for all was in the national parliament. I’ve been privileged to serve the people of the region for the past 20 years.
“In that time I’ve worked at the highest levels of government, I know how the system works and how to fight and win for my local communities.”
Mr Fitzgibbon said the local region had come a long way on his watch.
“It is a better place on most measures including unemployment, roads and other infrastructure, and while there is always more to be done, our health and education systems are in good shape,” he said.
“My promise is to protect those gains and to further build on our achievements. Jobs, jobs’ security, health, education and telecommunications remain my priorities,” he said.
