Shorten not yet asked to front commission

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has not been requested to give evidence before the unions royal commission.

Mr Shorten was asked on Friday whether he had received a formal notice requiring him to give evidence before the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

"No ... (but) I will co-operate with the royal commission, no problems," he told ABC radio.

"This commission provides a platform for all sorts of people to settle old scores and make claims, sometimes with credibility and evidence and sometimes without.

"Of course I, and the Labor party, will co-operate but we understand this is Tony Abbott's royal commission into trade unions - and the Liberal Party, and others, will seek to take whatever political advantage they can."