Govt heavyweights missing in Tas: Shorten

Bill Shorten is the latest senior Labor member to visit Tasmania and has repeated opposition claims the island state has been forgotten by the Turnbull government.

The opposition leader visited a Catholic school in the state's northwest on Friday, slamming the coalition's schools funding deal and criticising the government for not sending a senior MP to the state since Treasurer Scott Morrison handed down his budget more than a week ago.

"I'm surprised that the government couldn't find anyone from the mainland in any position of authority to come an visit Tasmania. It's almost like they have forgotten Tasmania is here, it's almost like they want to punish Tasmania," he told reporters at Wynyard.