Opposition Leader Bill Shorten ‘all for’ Adelaide space agency

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says he’s “all for” the national space agency being based in Adelaide — but it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Australia’s alternative prime minister after he was heckled while visiting the central market.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten says he’s “all for” the national space agency being based in Adelaide.

Mr Shorten has faced pressure to commit to the agency remaining in Adelaide after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announcement to base it at Lot Fourteen at the Old Royal Adelaide Hospital site.

He said at a press conference on Saturday that he was “quite excited” by the announcement but bemoaned that it had taken the Federal Government so long to “discover South Australia”.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten and Labor Senator Penny Wong are surrounded by activists holding “Stop Adani” signs at Adelaide Central Market. Picture: AAP / Lucas Coch

Labor had originally announced it would base the agency in Canberra if it won next year’s federal election.

“I’m all for it being in SA. But I do wish the federal government nationally had discovered SA before this week,” he said.

Asked about Premier Steven Marshall’s demand that Labor pass a commitment to keep the agency in Adelaide at this weekend’s national conference, Mr Shorten said he should “join the Labor Party” if he wanted to influence their policy.

“I understand why he wants to be us,” he said.

It came after he was heckled by protestors while touring the Adelaide Central Market.

Mr Shorten, in Adelaide for Labor’s National Conference, was confronted by multiple protestors urging for Labor to stop the Adani coal mine.

The protestors incessantly urged him to “take action on climate change” as he toured the market.

Multiple protests are planned for the conference, on issues ranging from Adani, to drilling in the Great Australian Bight.