Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hit out at Labor over its policy to keep two pandas in Adelaide, saying the animals should not be a priority during national emergencies such as north Queensland's floods.

Key points: Labor says revenue generated by Wang Wang and Fu Ni outweighs the cost

Labor says revenue generated by Wang Wang and Fu Ni outweighs the cost It has committed to keeping the pandas in Adelaide for another five years

It has committed to keeping the pandas in Adelaide for another five years Adelaide Zoo says the pair has earned the right to stay

Labor today committed to keeping giant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni, who have been on loan from China for almost 10 years, at Adelaide Zoo until 2024.

At an announcement in Adelaide, the Opposition's foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said it was important to keep the pandas because they provided "a great boost for tourism".

"Without funding, unfortunately the pandas would have to go home in November," she said.

"But today I'm announcing that a Shorten Labor government, if elected, will ensure that the pandas stay here in Adelaide and will fund [the deal] for five years at $1.3 million a year.

"I hope the Coalition can come aboard and match what we've committed to today."

Mr Morrison mocked the timing of the announcement, suggesting it was inappropriate to be focusing on the pandas when recovery efforts were underway in flood-affected parts of Queensland.

"I'll simply say this — my priority at the moment actually, with all due respect to people in South Australia and pandas, is cattle lying dead on properties in north Queensland," he said.

"If the Labor Party wants to focus on pandas, that's fine."

But the Prime Minister did not rule out making a similar announcement to Labor's in the future.

"I've been talking to [SA Premier] Steven Marshall about this and we'll have more to say about this at an appropriate time, as will he," he said.

Adelaide Zoo's male giant panda Wang Wang turns 14 this year. ( Supplied: Zoos SA Adrian Mann )

Pandas 'have been an enormous attraction'

It was hoped that, during their stay, the two pandas would produce a baby that would be able to remain in Australia.

But their failure to breed has become a running joke, with the zoo resorting to techniques including so-called panda porn.

"I'm determined to get an outcome down at the zoo. I'm heading down with the Barry White music straightaway," Mr Marshall quipped last week, shortly after the zoo announced the latest breeding program update.

Adelaide Zoo is one of only 22 zoos around the world — and the only one in Australia — to host pandas.

"We are very pleased to hear a Labor government will commit to extending the lease to keep our giant pandas," the zoo's acting chief executive, Sarah Brown, said in a statement.

"Since giant pandas arrived in 2009, Adelaide Zoo welcomed more than 3.8 million visitors and we know from economic analysis that having pandas in South Australia has generated $33.5 million in economic output in 2010."

Former foreign minister Alexander Downer brokered the deal to secure Wang Wang and Fu Ni for South Australia during the final years of the Howard government.

Mr Marshall has committed to lobbying his federal Liberal colleagues to keep the pair in Adelaide.

"I'm sure that we can speak to them. It would be wonderful to keep the pandas here in South Australia," the Premier said on Wednesday.

"I think the pandas, with or without any baby cubs, have been an enormous attraction. We've got a fantastic and growing relationship with China."