Mr Shorten follows in the footsteps of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack as well as Senator Matt Canavan, Minister for Northern Australia and Senator Linda Reynolds, Assistant Minister for Home Affairs who have all toured various parts of the region which have been impacted by floods.

Mr Shorten is different from the others obviously, representing the opposition and therefore less in an immediate position to be able to offer financial assistance via government coffers. But his understanding of the issues could help smooth any legislative requirements around packages of support the government may offer.

More importantly still, the opinion polls of the last couple of years suggest that Labor are likely to win the next election, which most observers believe will be called in the May timeframe.

That means Bill Shorten would become prime minister. There is some obvious distrust between Labor and the agricultural industry dating back to the live cattle export debacle of 2011 but in the event Labor does win the election the two parties will have to find a way of working together. So it was good to have him up in Cloncurry this week - even if the late notice of his visit prevented fellow mayors Belinda Murphy of McKinlay and John Wharton of Richmond from attending.

Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell asked Mr Shorten straight out if he supported the cattle live export industry because without that support there is no point in local graziers restocking.

Mr Shorten gave unequivocal support to that industry, something which may hurt him on his Green flank in marginal inner city electorates but one which he knows a lot is riding for the Australian economy.

He heard too about the importance of our mining industry and how we need to get the rail line working asap to avoid millions of dollars in lost earnings and possible layoffs.

Canberra needs to understand the scale of our problem and it is vital senior policitians of all stripe continue to show their support - Derek Barry