Richard Marles dodges Greens question as One Nation surges in latest Australian polling

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has sidestepped questions about whether Labor would need the Greens to remain in government after a dramatic poll showed Pauline Hanson’s One Nation surging to within striking distance of the Albanese Government.

Appearing on Sunrise on Tuesday morning, Mr Marles was asked directly whether Labor would need to work with the Greens to form government in 2028 if current polling trends continued.

Rather than answer the question, Mr Marles turned his attention to the political right, arguing that One Nation and the Coalition were increasingly dependent on each other.

“I think what’s really clear, is that when you look on the right side of politics, whether it’s the Liberals or One Nation, they’re going to need each other,” he said.

The comments come after a Roy Morgan poll showed One Nation climbing to 31.5 per cent in primary support, ahead of Labor on 27 per cent and the Coalition on just 17.5 per cent.

Sunrise host Matt Shirvington pressed Mr Marles on whether a preference-sharing arrangement between One Nation and the Coalition could force Labor into relying on Greens support to stay in power.

The Deputy Prime Minister again avoided directly addressing the prospect, instead was forced to defend Labor’s economic agenda and attacking both One Nation and the Coalition for opposing key government measures.

“While we’re focused on dealing with challenges around the cost of living, reducing tax, we’re making sure that medicine is more available, bulk billing is increasing, childcare is more affordable,” he said.

“Both One Nation and the Liberals have opposed all of that.”

Mr Marles argued Australians would be worse off under either Pauline Hanson or Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, claiming both parties would make it harder rather than easier to tackle cost-of-living pressures.

The questioning then shifted to the growing influence of the Greens, with Labor already facing pressure over delayed NDIS legislation and demands for further changes to its controversial tax reform package.

Asked how much influence the minor party already wielded, Mr Marles insisted the Greens were not part of government despite ongoing negotiations in the Senate.

“The Greens are completely separate from the government and we are governing Australia in the national interest,” he said.

He defended Labor’s efforts to secure support for its housing and tax reforms, saying the government remained focused on improving housing affordability and delivering tax cuts for working Australians.

“We’ll continue to work this through because both of those objectives really matter for the country,” he said.

The exchange highlights the increasingly difficult political balancing act facing Labor as it attempts to navigate pressure from both the Greens and a resurgent One Nation, while polling suggests traditional political loyalties are shifting dramatically.