Labor leader Bill Shorten has fought back tears as he responded to what he said was a "lazy" newspaper article about his mother.
During ABC's Q&A program on Monday, Mr Shorten spoke about how his mother, Dr Ann Shorten had wanted to become a lawyer but instead accepted a teaching scholarship in order to look after her younger siblings.
The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday attacked Mr Shorten over the story, saying he "omitted the fact" that she went on to later become a barrister.
Speaking in Nowra in NSW, Mr Shorten became emotional as he detailed his mother's career and praised her determination.
"My mum is the bravest person I've known," he said.
He then launched a scathing attack on the journalists behind the article.
"Who do some of the lazy people think that they are? That because they think that I explained myself at QandA on a Monday night, that they play 'gotcha s***' about your life story - more importantly, my mum's."
Mr Shorten explained his single mother worked as a teacher for three decades before studying law when he and his twin brother were at university.
"She finally realised her dream and qualified as a barrister in her late 50s," he said.
While Mr Shorten said his mother kept her name on the bar roll for several years, she encountered "dispiriting" age discrimination in the field.
"When you're an older woman in your 50s, you don't look young and jazzy."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Mr Shorten would have been very hurt by the News Corp Australia story and the election should not be about MPs' families.
"Bill lost his mother five years ago and I can understand that that would have upset him a great deal," he said.
"I would only extend my best wishes to him."
Wednesday's front page. Source: Twitter
He said the election should be focused on the choice between himself and Mr Shorten as prime minister.
"This election is not about our families," Mr Morrison said.
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