Shorten says he won't talk down economy

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is not about to talk down the economy, but says there is no denying that growth is too low.

Asked the day after figures showed the economy growing at its slowest pace in two years whether he thought Australia was heading towards a recession, Mr Shorten told reporters in Perth on Thursday: "I sincerely hope not."

"I think the Australian people are resilient but the real challenge here, and we can't deny it, is that our real growth and our nominal growth are too low."