The opposition leader has told 400 delegates in Melbourne a Labor government will roll out a globally-linked emissions trading scheme and seek support for a republic and same-sex marriage.
Mr Shorten also threw his weight behind more indigenous people and women being preselected as Labor candidates - with a target of 50 per cent women in the caucus within a decade - but is unlikely to support broader internal reform of the party.
The Labor leader pledged to build the next generation of submarines in Australia and modify the China free trade agreement to uphold Australian safety standards, wages and jobs.
Labor to target rich tax dodgers
Wealthy Australians would be forced to pay at least a minimum average rate of tax on their total income, under a policy to be adopted by Labor.
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Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese is understood to have majority support for a motion at today's ALP national conference to bring in an Australian version of the "Warren Buffett rule".
The rule is named after legendary billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who wrote in 2011 that he thought it was unfair that he pays a lower federal tax rate than his secretary.
A US Democrat senator has proposed legislation requiring taxpayers earning over $2 million to pay a 30 per cent minimum federal tax rate.
Under Mr Albanese's plan, to be seconded by public service union boss Nadine Flood, the top one per cent of income earners in Australia could be forced to chip in an extra $2.5 billion a year.
Recent Australian Tax Office figures show around 75 Australians earning more than $1 million a year paid no tax.
Constitutional recognition
Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten has pledged to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution and preselect more indigenous candidates for parliament.
Mr Shorten opened the ALP national conference in Melbourne today, noting there was a "restless moment in our national mood".
He says never has the choice between a Labor party planning for the future and a Liberal party stuck in the past been more stark.
Mr Shorten, who spent two days on the witness stand at the royal commission into union corruption, acknowledged the role of the labour movement and accused the Abbott government of damaging confidence in the economy.
Shorten's address
Mr Shorten was booed by some delegates when he named frontbencher Richard Marles as delivering "immigration policies that are safe and humane".
Saturday's conference session is expected to debate asylum seeker policy, giving the Labor leader scope to support boat turn backs - which many Left faction members say is a breach of international obligations.
Addressing women's equality, Mr Shorten called on the conference to support the goal of 50 per cent women Labor MPs within 10 years.
