Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has launched a fresh attack on Bill Shorten at a Liberal Party meeting in Adelaide.
Speaking to party faithful ahead of the South Australian election in March, the prime minister reinforced his view 'that only the liberal party can run the state'.
'The Labor Party of today is not the Labor Party of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating,' he said.
'This is the most dangerous left wing leader of the Labor Party we have seen in generations.
'He is a wholly owned subsidiary of militant left wing unions who have no regards for the rights of others.
'The CMFEU controls Bill Shorten.'
Mr Turnbull also dubbed South Australia's energy plan an 'experiment' based on 'ideology and idiocy'.
'The sun doesn't shine all the time, the wind doesn't blow all the time, this is not a revelation but it is one that completely eluded (Premier) Jay Weatherill,' he said.
His speech followed one from Opposition Leader Steven Marshall who is looking to end Labor's four-term stranglehold on government in SA.
Shadow Minister Climate Change and Energy Mark Butler says the comments from Mr Turnbull on Mr Shorten are 'ridiculous' and indicate the prime minister is 'out of his depth'.
'(He) is struggling to the job that he's expected to do by Australians, which is to deliver in the national interest on policy issues that matter to them,' Mr Butler said on Saturday.
'Not personal attacks, policy issues that will change their lives.'
The key issue in South Australia remains the reliability and high price of electricity with the Commonwealth critical of the state government's energy plan, including installation of the world's biggest battery to store solar and wind power.
Much talk this week has also centred on the state government's controversial tax on the big banks which passed the lower house of state parliament along with other budget measures but faces a bid by the Liberals to block it in the Legislative Council.
Mr Turnbull backed a promised crackdown on the drug trade from the South Australian opposition, including a pledge to eradicate ice and 'drive this drug out of the hands of our children'.
Mr Marshall outlined his proposals at the party's annual meeting, including a pledge to send police sniffer dogs into state schools, if the Liberals win the state election.
Mr Turnbull told the gathering he was inspired by the passion expressed by Mr Marshall and his desire to tackle the 'shocking, miserable menace' that is crystal methamphetamine.
