Bill Shorten wins Queensland FM radio quiz

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten can correctly identify the year Captain Cook landed in Australia and who our first prime minister was, but don't ask him who features on the $10 note.

The man vying for Australia's top job on Wednesday ventured into that notoriously dangerous place for political leaders - FM radio - taking part in a trivia quiz against Olympic swimming champion Susie O'Neill on Brisbane's Nova 106.9.

Mr Shorten knew Captain Cook landed at Botany Bay in 1770, Australia's first prime minister was Sir Edmund Barton and that the Big Banana was located at Coffs Harbour.

He narrowly escaped embarrassment by correctly stating, after a long silence, that there were six stars on the Australian flag.

Mr Shorten told the Nova hosts he could not afford to get that one wrong.

"That would've made the national news," he said.

But when it came to whose face featured on the $10 note, Mr Shorten passed on the question.

The answer was bush poet Banjo Paterson.

Mr Shorten won the quiz by one point, graciously telling the former golden girl of the pool it was a lucky victory.

"I think I escaped by the skin of my teeth Susie so I'm always up for a rematch during the election," he said.

Mr Shorten proposed forming a team with Ms O'Neill and taking on another two contestants, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and swimmer Elka Graham put forward as possible opponents.

The opposition leader, who has been in Townsville since Monday, will make his way to Mackay on Wednesday.