Labor not planning to test coalition power

Labor has no plans to test the federal government's fragile grip on power despite pulling off a historic win on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten denied Tuesday's vote on faster medical transfers for asylum seekers, which dealt the coalition an extremely rare and embarrassing defeat, showed the government had lost control.

"Last night was not about an election - last night was about the simple proposition that Australia is strong enough to treat people humanely," he told reporters at Parliament House.

Even still, Mr Shorten believes the "incompetent and divided" Morrison government should call an election as soon as possible.

"This is a government that's run out of ideas. All they can take to talk about is Labor. They should have an election," he said.