Shorten to kick off campaign in Cairns

True to his promise for an election fought on education, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will kick-start his campaign at a Queensland school.

Mr Shorten will spend the first few days of his campaign in the key electorates of regional Queensland, starting with Cairns in the seat of Leichhardt.

The seat is held by popular government MP Warren Entsch but has been traditionally Labor in the past.

Mr Shorten's first event will be at a Cairns school where he will discuss Labor's plan to fully fund Gonski.

"This election will be a contest between Labor putting people first, and a Liberal Party looking after vested interests and the top end of town," a Labor spokesman said on Monday morning.

"Labor is the underdog this election - Mr Turnbull starts with a 20-seat head start."

Mr Shorten will address the media around midday before heading to Townsville on Monday afternoon.