ADAM Bandt is likely to hold the seat of Melbourne even if the Liberals direct preferences against him next election, a Galaxy poll suggests.

Mr Bandt snatched the seat from Labor at the 2010 federal election after the Liberals preferenced him ahead of the ALP's Cath Bowtell.

A recent poll shows Adam Bandt would have won the seat of Melbourne with a two-party vote of 56-44 per cent. Credit:Craig Abraham

Since then, Liberal elders including former prime minister John Howard have urged their party to direct preferences to Labor over the Greens, arguing the major party is less extreme.

But the Galaxy poll suggests that even if the Liberals direct their preferences away from the Greens, as they did at the subsequent state election, Mr Bandt is likely to retain the seat.