Shorten says growth figures concerning

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is gravely concerned about the latest economic growth figures and the impact on jobs.

The latest national accounts showed the economy grew by just 0.2 per cent in the June quarter, half the rate expected by economists and for an annual growth rate of two per cent.

"Every quarter since (Prime Minister Tony) Abbott and his Liberals got elected two years ago, economic growth has come in below trend and this explains why we have the highest number of unemployed people in Australia in 20 years, 800,000 people," Mr Shorten told reporters in Sydney.