Labor sees red over Greens' use of Whitlam

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has expressed outrage over the Australian Greens' use of Gough Whitlam's image in a social media campaign.

The former prime minister died in Sydney on Tuesday aged 98.

The Greens, who have been arguing for a fairer deal for university students, have produced an image with the slogan: "1 Jan 1974 Gough abolishes university fees. Gough Whitlam's legacy for a progressive Australia will be remembered. Vale Gough Whitlam."

It also includes the Greens' party logo.

Asked about it in the Labor caucus room on Wednesday, Mr Shorten said: "On the day he died, how offensive for them to co-opt him."

But Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt said the party was "paying tribute to a political giant".

Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said the action of the Greens was "cheap, opportunistic and offensive".

Mr Whitlam would never have approved the photo's use, he added.

"Just do the right thing, pull it down and admit it was an error of judgment," he said.