   joel andrew fitzgibbon (born 16 january 1962) is an australian politician and australian labor party member of the australian house of representatives since march 1996, representing the division of hunter in new south wales. from december 2007 to june 2009 he was the minister for defence in the first rudd ministry. he resigned from cabinet in june 2009 after several controversies related to his ministerial conduct. in july 2013, following kevin rudd's election as labor leader, he was appointed the minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry in the second rudd ministry. ==background== fitzgibbon was born in bellingen, new south wales, and is the son of eric fitzgibbon who was mp for hunter 1984â96. before entering politics fitzgibbon was an automotive electrician, electorate officer, part-time technical education 
1962_births Australian_Labor_Party_politicians Living_people Members_of_the_Australian_House_of_Representatives Members_of_the_Australian_House_of_Representatives_for_Hunter Members_of_the_Cabinet_of_Australia Rudd_Government