"You're scum Shorten" was the welcome the opposition leader received as he hit the streets to mingle with voters.
Bill Shorten hadn't even entered the Stockland Green Hills mall in the NSW Hunter region on Saturday when he copped a spray from a passing heckler.
The man was angered by Mr Shorten's decision to skip a repatriation ceremony for Vietnam War veterans earlier this month.
"Couldn't be bothered to go and see the war veterans could you.
"Absolute scum you are - You are a disgrace to this nation."
Mr Shorten has previously apologised for not attending the ceremony.
He admitted both he and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull might have got it wrong when they stayed away out of respect, concerned the "travelling circus" of the election campaign would detract from the dignity of the ceremony.
Others were much happier to see Mr Shorten, like 17-year-old Christian Cedergren who threw himself at the opposition leader, hugging him several times.
He burst into tears as he told Mr Shorten about his autism, and the severe disability his sister suffers which isn't recognised by her school.
"You tell your family I will move heaven and earth to properly fund disability funding in schools," Mr Shorten told Christian.
"You've got so much else going for you."
Several people lined up to meet Mr Shorten and take photos with him as he toured the mall in the seat of Paterson.
Several others waited to quiz him on issues from mining to the economy.
Irena Mullin, 61, wanted to know what Labor was doing to reduce the nation's debt, and to make housing more affordable for her adult children.
"I've always voted Liberal but at least he gave me the time of day," she told AAP.
A redistribution in the Liberal-held seat of Paterson means it will become notionally Labor by a wafer-thin margin of 0.3 per cent.
Earlier on Saturday, Mr Shorten visited the NSW Central Coast to unveil a $300 million five-point plan to tackle chronic disease.
Under the plan, 50 at-risk communities would receive targeted support, including initiatives to encourage physical activity and healthy eating.
There'd also be a national tobacco campaign to curb smoking rates, a national alcohol strategy to reduce alcohol misuse and a national health information website.
