Turnbull avoiding scrutiny, says Shorten

When it comes to the prime minister "they seek him here, they seek him there", says Bill Shorten.

Malcolm Turnbull has been the Scarlet Pimpernel of the election campaign, says Bill Shorten.

The prime minister has declined to take part in a number of events with the Labor leader, who compared Mr Turnbull to an evasive French revolution novel character.

"He has been the Scarlet Pimpernel of this election - just pinning him down is harder than I thought it would be," Mr Shorten told reporters in Hobart on Friday.