In a heated pre-election interview, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended the Liberal party’s preference deal with Clive Palmer, saying the Queensland businessman is less of a risk to the Australian economy than the Labor party and the Greens.

Speaking with Leigh Sales on ABC’s 7.30 Monday evening, Morrison was grilled on the Coalition’s preference arrangements with Palmer’s United Australia Party and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation to gain more Queensland seats.

“Does it tell voters something about Coalition principles that you’ll do deals with Pauline Hanson or Clive Palmer if it helps you stay in power?” asked Sales.

“Do I think the United Australia Party is a bigger risk to the Australian economy and jobs and Australia’s future than Labor and the Greens? No, I don’t think they’re a bigger risk,” said Morrison.

“I think Bill Shorten and the Greens are a much greater risk to people’s jobs and the economic and national security of this country than the alternative.”

Morrison was also quizzed on the rift within the Liberal Party. Sales referred to the official Labor campaign launch on Sunday, which saw former prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard sitting side-by-side in a display of unity.

“Will you be having John Howard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull at yours?” asked Sales.

Morrison deflected the question, not confirming whether the two former Liberal prime ministers will be attending this Sunday. 

“It’s not a hoopla event,” the Prime Minister said. “It’s not about who’s coming. It’s about who will be listening. And my opportunity to set out to them once again the choice of this election.”

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Turnbull will not attend the campaign launch, instead opting to stay in New York, US.

Morrison and Sales also discussed the Coalition’s climate policy, with the TV host bringing up the government’s track record of climate skepticism. 

“John Howard admitted he was a climate sceptic. Tony Abbott the same. You famously took a lump of coal into the parliament. Business has decried the absence of a climate and energy policy. Why would voters trust a third-term Coalition Government to do anything differently?”

However, Morrison said his government is “taking action on climate change” and would meet its “inherited” 2020 Kyoto targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 5 per cent below 2000 levels.