Shorten wants early commission appearance

Bill Shorten has asked to appear before the royal commission into trade union corruption earlier than scheduled.

Bill Shorten is under pressure to explain new allegations about his time as a trade union boss. (AAP) Source: AAP

The opposition leader has requested the date be changed from August or September to July during parliament's winter break.

A letter from his lawyer says "Mr Shorten desires to bring forward the date of his appearance so that he may address all issues of interest to the commission".

Source: Supplied

The federal government says Mr Shorten needs to respond to fresh allegations about his days as a trade union boss before a scheduled appearance at a royal commission.

Chemical manufacturer Huntsman allegedly paid the Victorian branch of the Australia Workers' Union hundreds of thousands of dollars while Mr Shorten was state secretary under an agreement to make sure workers "didn't disrupt" operations, The Australian said on Thursday.