We can get across the line: Shorten

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has visited a rain-swept Adelaide to deliver his "positive policies" for South Australia.

Bill Shorten at a rail manufacturing facility in Adelaide

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has visited a rain-swept Adelaide to deliver his policies for SA. (AAP)

Bill Shorten is confident with nine days to go before polling day, telling Labor volunteers the party "can get across the line".

The opposition leader was in rainswept Adelaide on Thursday, spruiking his "positive policies" for South Australia to workers at a rail maintenance yard before heading to the ALP state headquarters.

Flanked by wife Chloe and South Australian senator Penny Wong, Mr Shorten said the party wouldn't be deterred or discouraged from fighting for Medicare until the last minute on July 2.

He thanked campaign staff and volunteers from key seats around Adelaide, asking them to "dig a little deeper".

"Labor can get across the line," Mr Shorten told the group.

He also took aim at Independent senator Nick Xenophon and his "ragtag militia" of candidates, saying they couldn't be trusted to protect penalty rates "in a month of Sundays".

Earlier, Mr Shorten was forced to raise his voice several decibels to be heard over the rain as it pelted down on the tin roof of Adelaide's Rail Infrastructure depot when he addressed workers and later the media.

"It's one of the challenges of a winter election ... Blame the other guy," Mr Shorten said.

He was shown the depot's large excavator, but declined to try out the cab.

However, he did mount the huge elevated work platform used for repairing overhead cables above rail lines.

But he thought better of delivering his speech from there.

Mr Shorten used his visit to present his "positive policies" for South Australia.

This includes creating more apprenticeships, while offering businesses incentives for taking on staff aged under 25 and over 55.

"We are committed to manufacturing, public transport," he told workers who gave him rapturous applause when he had finished.

He talked about Labor's $100 million investment in steelmaker Arrium to secure more than 3500 South Australian jobs.

This was the best option after consulting with the administrator, he said.

"Not the third, fourth or fifth option such as Mr Turnbull picked in a sort second-hand car yard sale of options," he said.


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Source: AAP



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