Shorten's heart-stopping moment

Bill Shorten has no heart - or, at least, a heart rate monitor has been unable to find it.

The opposition leader's awkward moment played out in Melbourne on Friday after he offered to try out a smartphone stethoscope.

Holding the device to his chest, he waited a few moments for his heart and breathing rates to register on the smart phone.

But after 10 seconds, there was nothing.

"Oh, well," joked one of the designers of CliniCloud.

"Technology in progress."

Mr Shorten's minders were noticeably tense, but their leader shook off the malfunction.

"That's all right, I just have a very low blood pressure," Mr Shorten said.

"My heart rate is very low."

CliniCloud is one of several businesses in the start-up hub Mr Shorten was visiting.

The health kit includes a digital stethoscope and thermometer, allowing users to analyse data and share it with health professionals.