"People didn't give Labor any chance when Turnbull took over ... that's it, he will be there for a decade," he said.

"The point is people are not interested in the personalities but interested in the action and substance. Labor put together policies for the last elections, 100 positive policies.

"I think it is fair to say that in the last election Labor exceeded expectations. I'm acutely aware we didn't win the election. I think most fair-minded observers would say that the Labor Party's back and we are being a very strong opposition.

"We want to be a positive alternative government."

Labor won a net 14 seats at the election, almost defeating the Coalition after one term in government.

The party's campaign focused heavily on policy, while the Coalition sought to take advantage of Mr Turnbull's personal popularity after ousting the unpopular Tony Abbott in September 2015.

Mr Shorten appeared at a press conference in Perth with West Australian Labor Premier Mark McGowan and leadership rival and infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese, who commended Mr Shorten's "fantastic" leadership.

Mr Albanese lost the party's leadership contest to Mr Shorten in 2013 despite being favoured by party members.


"We did very well in the last election, we won seats right around the country," he said.

"And you know what characterises Labor? We're a team. Unlike the rabble on the other side, we're out there working each and every day."

Mr Shorten said "[election] reviews are sometimes released, sometimes not".

"One thing is for sure, the Australian people looked at Labor one one term of our defeat in 2013 and took a much greater interest. I care to believe they liked what they saw. What we have taken as the lesson from the last election is work on our positive policies.

"We we don't want people to vote for us because we're not as out of touch with Turnbull and his government. We don't want people to vote for Labor at the next election because we won't stand up, because we will stand up against vested interests.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he would leave it to the pundits to comment on the reports.

"I won it, right, we won it. We won, it's a team business, the Coalition won it and that's the most important thing."