Federal Labor plans to fast-track policy and campaign work in case an early election is called.
The Labor caucus was told on Tuesday they should be on a war footing in the wake of instability within the Liberal Party, which culminated in a leadership spill motion on Monday.
"We can't assume the government will go full term because of its instability and division," Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told the caucus.
The meeting heard work was under way on national and local announcements and local electorate campaigns.
Mr Shorten told the caucus Labor will put social justice on the national agenda.
Over the past two weeks of the Liberal leadership "fiasco", more than 2000 Australians had become unemployed and more than 500 people had sought homelessness services, he said.
"We will fight to the last drop of our breath the brutal attack on the poor in Australia," he said.
"We will put social justice back up the political priority."
Taking a leaf out of US President Barack Obama's book, the Labor leader said the coalition no longer talked about the "middle class".
"They are being marginalised and pushed to the side," Mr Shorten said.
This was shown in the government's review of the minimum wage, the Medicare co-payment, higher university fees and the superannuation pause.
Labor's message to the coalition was that the Australian people no longer trusted them "and never will", Mr Shorten said.
"The truth is that governments lose when they break their promises."
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