Climate change at the heart of Shorten's election campaign

Bill Shorten puts climate change at
the heart of his election hopes.

Bill Shorten says he will put climate change at the centre of his campaign to become prime minister despite the political risks as he seeks to draw the election battle lines against the "underwhelming" Malcolm Turnbull.

In an exclusive interview with Fairfax Media ahead of the final week of Parliament before the May budget, Mr Shorten says that while Labor remains the underdog he now believes he can beat Mr Turnbull, who had been viewed as untouchable.

As Mr Turnbull prepares to mark six months in power on Monday – and with early-budget and double-dissolution election speculation now at fever pitch – Mr Shorten says the Prime Minister has been a huge letdown for many Australians.

Read Adam Gartrell’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “'I can win': Bill Shorten draws election battle lines.”