‘Labor is not going down that path’: Bill Shorten declares he won’t move Australia Day

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has declared he will never move the date of Australia Day if he becomes Prime Minister.

The revelation comes as polling, commissioned by right-wing think tank the Institute of Public Affairs, shows 75 per cent of those surveyed believe Australia Day should continue to be celebrated on January 26.

The Greens, and a handful of councils, had been pushing for a change of date out of respect for Indigenous Australians.

Australia Day marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet, and the raising of the flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip.

The data, compiled by Sydney firm Research Now, and published by Newscorp, was collected from a survey of 1000 people.

The Greens have now offered to host citizenship ceremonies on behalf of local councils who refuse to hold events on January 26 out of respect for indigenous people.

In an exclusive interview, Mr Shorten told The TODAY Show he didn't want to see Australia Day politicised.

"I'm not going to get distracted by that - the Greens can say or do what they want - Labor is not going to go down that path. We're not going to have big political debates about the day of Australia Day."

"Some days I'd like to put the Greens with Tony Abbott and a few of the right-wing in the Liberal Party in the same room, tell them to sort it out, and the rest of us can just get on and cook a snag on the barbie," Mr Shorten said.

"What happens in Australian politics is sometimes the extremes - because they say radical things - grab a headline."

Last year Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced plans to force councils to hold ceremonies on Australia Day, and just last week he said a strict dress would be enforced at official events in an attempt to preserve the date.

"I don't want to be the 'Fashion Police' telling people what they can wear at citizenship ceremonies. I just think we ought to leave the politics alone, catch up with our family and friends, and on Australia Day, my wish is for all Australians just to realise what a great country we live in," said Mr Shorten.

While the Scott Morrison today travels to Vanuatu, where he'll meet with working with Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, Health Minister Greg Hunt is confident the vast majority of people support Australia Day.

"It celebrates what we are as a contemporary nation and this game that's played out every year is simply a diversion and self-serving," Mr Hunt said.

"Australia Day is about celebrating a nation that is a multi-ethnic success, with all of the challenges of any country."