Labor MPs lay floral tribute for Whitlam

Labor leader Bill Shorten has joined with his parliamentary colleagues in paying tribute to his predecessor Gough Whitlam with a commemorative march.

About 200 members of Labor's caucus and staff walked from the new Parliament House to the old one, where Mr Whitlam served his time in parliament.

Mr Shorten and deputy leader Tanya Plibersek laid a wreath alongside public floral tributes on the stairs where Mr Whitlam made his famous speech after being sacked in 1975.

Caucus observed a minute's silence before heading inside for a private wake.

Tributes left at Old Parliament House may be added to the collection of the Museum of Australian Democracy housed there.