What Shorten says about the year ahead

KEY POINTS FROM BILL SHORTEN'S PRESS CLUB ADDRESS

* Promised Labor will use the next year to redevelop a comprehensive policy agenda, focused on preparing Australians for the future.

* "Two things are different since the July election: "Donald Trump has become president and Malcolm Turnbull has got worse."

* Australia needs a plan to improve living standards.

* People are disengaged from politics and distrustful of the political class who are seen as "letting down Australia".

* "I'll never give up what I believe - or what I oppose - in exchange for a quiet political life or the approval of the powerful."

* Mantra for the year: "People first, politics last."

* Tighten politicians' expenses by setting up an independent oversight body.

* Tighten political donation rules to clamp down on foreign donations and make anything of $1000 or more publicly declared.

* On Malcolm Turnbull's major, still-secret election donation to the Liberal Party: "The prime minister owes Australians a lot better than the bare minimum. If 210 days of avoiding scrutiny is within the rules - then the rules are just wrong."

* A parliamentary inquiry into setting up a national integrity commission - not because he believes corruption is rampant but to restore public confidence in politics.

* All Australians should have access to skills and training needed for decent jobs, with government, business and unions designing high quality tertiary and vocational education systems. And revitalise TAFE.

* One in 10 jobs on major commonwealth projects and defence contracts should be for apprentices.

* "We need to revive the co-operative spirit of the Hawke-Kelty consensus between businesses, unions and the Commonwealth."