Bill Shorten struggles to explain Labor’s superannuation and climate change policies

After almost six years as the Teflon Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten no longer looks invincible after two awful days on the campaign trail.

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After almost six years as the Teflon Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten no longer looks invincible after two awful days on the campaign trail.

Unlike the rails run he enjoyed in the 2016 campaign, this time the Coalition is applying the blowtorch. No media appearance goes by without Prime Minister Scott Morrison describing Shorten as “sneaky”, “clueless” or “lying”, all with a genial smile on his face.

Shorten’s troubles began on Tuesday when he told reporters he had “no plans to introduce any new taxes on superannuation”, even though, as the PM keeps telling retirees, Labor’s policies would gouge $30 billion from their nest eggs.

Shorten also refused five times to answer a question about the cost to the economy of his emissions reduction policy.

Mr Shorten speaks to workers during a visit to a Volgren Bus Australia facility in the federal seat of Cowan in Perth on Wednesday. Picture: Getty

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Then we discovered that Labor’s negative gearing and capital gains policies had quietly vanished from their official campaign website.

On Wednesday in Perth, Shorten attempted to clean up his mess but only made it worse. First, he said he had just misunderstood the question, which led him to claim there will be no new taxes on superannuation under a government he leads.

“I thought I was being asked if there were unannounced changes to superannuation and we’ve already made the announcements of the changes we’re going to make.”

Mr Shorten meets with workers at a Perth bus facility on Wednesday. Picture: Getty

Then, when reporters kept asking asked how much extra revenue he planned to generate with his superannuation tax hike, he said it wasn’t a tax: “I don’t accept your characterisation it’s raising taxes. When you wind back a concession that’s stopping a tax expenditure.”

Finally, after not answering repeated questions on the topic, he stepped aside for Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen, who promptly confirmed the Coalition claim that Labor’s superannuation policy would reap $30 billion.

Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen with Mr Shorten at the St John of God Midland Public hospital in Perth to announce a ‘Right to Trial’ program for blood cancer patients to access clinical trial drugs and therapies if elected. Picture: Getty

It looked messy, to say the least.

“For five and a half years (Shorten) has gone under the radar,” the PM said on Wednesday. “But in this election he’s under a lot more pressure to explain himself.

“On superannuation, did he really think he was going to get away with saying, ‘no new taxes but we’re starting now’? (It’s like saying) ‘Lord make me celibate — just not yet’.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets locals at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub in Devonport, Tasmania, on Wednesday. Picture: Getty

Whether Shorten’s stumble is as damaging as the “birthday cake” moment that cost John Hewson the “unlosable election” is yet to be seen, with four weeks still to go until ­voting and voters yet to switch on.