Peter Dutton says he's doubtful Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will win a majority at the upcoming federal election, but suggested teal independents would not side with the Coalition in the event of a hung parliament.
The Opposition leader's remarks on Sunday came as new YouGov polling suggested the Coalition would fall three seats short of a majority — winning 73 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, compared to 66 for Labor.
YouGov also predicted there was a 78 per cent probability of a hung parliament at the next election, .
Dutton told Sky News on Sunday the Coalition ruled out seeking Greens support to form a minority government in the event it didn't win a majority, and claimed teal independents — like Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel — would "only ever support a Labor government".
In a video posted to social media in late January, Ryan, the member for the Victorian seat of Kooyong, said she had "never ruled in or out" the possibility of working with any of her colleagues across the political spectrum after Dutton made a similar remark.
Despite his assertion, Dutton went on to tell Sky News he would "talk with the crossbench" but then suggested "they will never come our way".
Though if the Coalition was able to secure at least 72 seats, he said it would be "unusual" for the crossbench to not guarantee supply and confidence.
"But some of them will only ever support the Labor Party," he said.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton believes teal independents would only support Labor in the event of a hung parliament after the federal election. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
If the Coalition were to win power, it would also make Labor the first single-term federal government since 1931.
In his interview with Sky News, Dutton also signalled he would reappoint sacked home affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo if he became prime minister.
Pezzullo after an inquiry found he had breached the public service code on at least 14 occasions.
"I think he was vilified unfairly by the government and I would make a decision in relation to appointments if we're fortunate enough to win government," Dutton said.
Dutton also told Sky News the Coalition would examine whether further tax cuts were possible if they won power.
