A Liberal candidate who gatecrashed Bill Shorten's visit to a Sunbury health centre made a swift exit after a trainwreck media interview leaving one of his supporters hanging.
The opposition leader was campaigning alongside Rob Mitchell who holds the marginal rural seat of McEwen on a knife edge 0.2 per cent margin.
Liberal candidate Chris Jermyn and his supporter Bruce Lancashire held party posters out the front of the Sunbury Community Health Centre where Mr Shorten was due to announce $2 million for a child health hub if he wins the election.
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Mr Shorten shook Mr Jermyn's hand as he arrived and joked at least he got to see one leader this election.
Mr Jermyn was asked by a News Corp journalist whether he supported lifting the freeze on the Medicare rebate for doctors and to articulate the federal government's policy.
"Look clearly my position is that of the federal government," he said.
"The government's policy is very clear. Nonetheless I think we've got the leader arriving now so I'd like to have a listen to what he's got to say."
The incident was akin to a Jaymes Diaz moment - the Liberal candidate for the seat of Greenway in Sydney from 2013 who struggled to explain his party's policies on border protection.
Mr Shorten made light of the Liberal candidate's gaffe during his press conference as Mr Lancashire stood at the back with the Liberal poster.
"I understand he was questioned about what is the Liberal health care policy and to be fair to this poor fellow he said he didn't know," Mr Shorten said, adding that he was able to help out.
"The health care policy if (Prime Minister Malcolm) Turnbull is re-elected will mean that 14.5 million Australians will pay more to go to see the doctor."
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Mr Jermyn took off before the press conference was over, leaving a vociferous Mr Lancashire behind to answer questions about his whereabouts.
He repeatedly claimed Labor would harm the growth of Sunbury.
"$40,000 worth of debt per worker... That's what's firing me up," he shouted, adding that he's got children and grandchildren who will face that burden.
The media caught up with Mr Jermyn later, but he refused to answer questions and drove off in his car.
"This is why I hate journalists," he said.
Earlier, Mr Shorten played with toy caterpillars and playdough with kids from the early intervention program.
He also met four-year-old Declan who was playing a matching game and making animal noises.
His mother Mary-Anne Desira told AAP working with a speech pathologist had helped turn her non-verbal son into a chatterbox.
Mr Turnbull dodged questioning about Mr Jermyn's performance, saying it was Mr Shorten who deserved scrutiny over policy.
"When we're addressing questions of Victorian candidates, I think Bill Shorten should be right at the top of the list," he told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.
