I have mandate for change: Shorten

Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten has claimed a mandate for sweeping changes that will allow people to join the ALP without being union members.

Mr Shorten will on Tuesday deliver a speech detailing his party reform plans, which include opening up the party to non-union members and loosening ties to the union movement.

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Mr Shorten also wants to see more primary-style community pre-selections and a more representative ALP national conference.

Ahead of his Melbourne speech, Mr Shorten said it was time Labor modernised its relationship with the unions.

The ALP needed to be a "membership-based party not a faction-based party" if it was to be competitive.

"We need to give real power to our members ... we need to make sure that the best possible candidates are encouraged," Mr Shorten told Seven Network.

"We need to reach out to people from small business, from regional towns, from all walks of life."

Asked if he had the support of the unions, Mr Shorten said he had discussed the proposed changes "with a range of people".

"I'm the leader of the Labor party," he said.

"I believe that as the first leader elected by (party members) that I do have a mandate for change."

Labor's Matt Thistlethwaite backed plans to broaden the membership of the party.

"These are all positive reforms that will be well received in the party and in the wider community," he told Sky News.