Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon says he warned colleagues that the party’s emphasis on climate action over coal jobs was eroding its support in regional Australia, as soul-searching begins into why voters have abandoned Labor in crucial mining seats.

Labor was wedged on the issue of Adani’s proposed Carmichael coal mine in central Queensland in the months leading to its unexpected election loss. It struggled to articulate a clear position as it sought to appease city voters who opposed the mine on climate grounds, and regional voters worried about the decline of the coal industry.

Labor suffered bad swings in regional areas, including a 10 per cent swing against Mr Fitzgibbon in his coal-dependent NSW seat of Hunter.

Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon said the party should have better emphasised its support for coal jobs and investment. Credit:Bloomberg

Mr Fitzgibbon said Labor’s message on the Adani mine – that it must stack up environmentally and financially, and should not receive Commonwealth financial assistance – was too nuanced.