By Andrew Brown in Canberra

Pauline Hanson has stepped back from comments that women should not be paid by their employers while on parental leave.

During a speech at the National Press Club on Wednesday, the One Nation leader said employees should not be paid if they’re taking time off work, even if they’re on 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, Senator 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 as government-funded paid parental leave is set 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.

Senator 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 told reporters in Canberra.

Nationals leader Matt Canavan said Senator 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 told reporters.

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 between four and 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.