Anthony Albanese has snapped at Karl Stefanovic and denied calling Pauline Hanson’s supporters “dark forces”, despite him using those exact words in a podcast days earlier.

Appearing on the Nine journalist’s podcast on Tuesday afternoon, the Prime Minister was quizzed on whether the phrase he used was a “poor choice of words” in retrospect.

Mr Albanese said the One Nation leader “appeals to our darkest forces” during an appearance on The Guardian’s Australian Politics Podcast last Friday.

“The people out there, they’re hardworking people and for them to be described as dark forces,” Stefanovic said before being cut off by the Prime Minister.

Mr Albanese jumped in and said: “I have never done that, Karl so don’t suggest that I have, I don’t suggest that for one minute”.

However, only days earlier Mr Albanese was interviewed by The Guardian Australia’s Political Editor Tom McIlroy where he said: “Pauline Hanson appeals to our darkest forces”.

Mr Albanese told Stefanovic he was simply talking about Pauline Hanson.

“I’m describing Pauline Hanson, and whether you appeal to people’s better instincts, or whether you try to amplify divisions in society,” he told the host.

“What we need in Australia is more unity, proper discourse. Have a look at what Pauline says about me.”

When asked whether he is worried about One Nation “coming at him” and the party’s influence, the Prime Minister said it did not represent the Australian working class.

This is despite Ms Hanson securing interest from 52 per cent of working class voters, a demographic traditionally aligned with the Labor Party.

“I want to see people support mainstream politics. I’ve said in the past that I’d prefer people not support One Nation,” he said.

“They don’t represent [working class] values.”

About half of all Australians have said they are seriously considering voting for One Nation despite the controversy surrounding Ms Hanson’s “no good Muslims” comment.

The latest Sky News Pulse / YouGov poll found 48 per cent of voters are open to backing One Nation, while 52 per cent are not considering it.

More concerningly to the Prime Minister’s base was that Ms Hanson’s party had secured the interest of 52 per cent of working-class voters, shattering Mr Albanese’s claim that One Nation doesn’t represent working class values.

If an election was held tomorrow, One Nation would also win 28 per cent of working class voters, ahead of Labor at 24 per cent.

The survey was conducted from February 17-24 — in the immediate aftermath of the media and political backlash over Ms Hanson’s remarks about the Muslim community.

Ms Hanson told Sky News on February 16, “How can you tell who are good Muslims?”, prompting claims she had declared there was no such thing as a good Muslim.

However, despite the public outrage from both sides of politics, the controversy has done little to dent One Nation’s broader electoral appeal.

The Sky News Pulse also revealed 24 per cent of Australians would vote for One Nation if an election was held tomorrow.