One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has walked back comments that women should not be paid by their employers while on parental leave.

Hanson made the comments at her speech at the National Press Club last Wednesday, saying workers shouldn’t be paid if they’re taking time off work, even if it’s for maternity leave.

“If women take time off and they are not paid their wages because they’re not working, fair enough,” she said in the speech.

“Why should business pay? But they’re not at work. That’s the difference. That’s why the pay gap is there.”

But less than a week later, Hanson said the comments were taken out of context.

She said she supported government-paid parental leave, but businesses should not be forced to pay employees.

“It’s up to companies if they want to have it in their policy to give it to their workers,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program on Tuesday.

“There’s no way, shape or form that I am actually saying to get rid of it.

“I think it’s been very beneficial to women to get back into the workforce. So that was totally taken completely out of context.”

The comments come with government-funded paid parental leave poised to be extended to 26 weeks from July 1.

Parents are able to share the six months of leave as they choose, with super also able to be paid on top of it.

Hanson said businesses would not be able to make ends meet if they were also forced to pay for paid parental leave.

“If you force them to actually pay for paid maternity leave, they would go under. They won’t be able to survive. They’re really struggling,” she said in Canberra.

Nationals leader Matt Canavan said Hanson had to explain any change in her party’s position.

“The Press Club speech was considered a detailed view from One Nation; it would be a surprise if they’ve had to revise that within days,” he said.

Recent polling has indicated One Nation would become the official opposition if an election were held today.

A poll released from DemosAU for Capital Brief, released on Monday showed, One Nation could win between 54 and 63 seats.

Labor would retain government but could be in minority with between 65 and 74 seats.

The Coalition would hold a tiny four-11 seats, while the Greens and independents would each have fewer than 10.

The polling broadly mirrors findings from an earlier RedBridge Group and Accent Research survey.

-AAP