One Nation plans to move its national headquarters to a multi-storey office building in Brisbane purchased by Hanrine, the investment arm of Gina Rinehart. The property in the suburb of Spring Hill was confirmed in Queensland land registry records, with the first report made by The Australian on Monday.
The building is valued at around A$8 million, while property transaction records show it was last sold for A$2.4 million in 2003. The three-storey building will, according to plans, become the party's new headquarters following renovation, with staff and officials moving from their current premises near Brisbane airport.
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce defended the move, stating that the party would pay market rent to the company. "This is her building, her rent. We are renting space from her on commercial terms," Joyce told News24, adding that he was not "in her pocket". He stressed that there was no question of special conditions for the party. "If we have an individual with money, they should be allowed to spend it as they see fit," he said.
Joyce explained that One Nation would pay for the space from the party's funds. Under the rules for parliamentary resource allocation, the state covers office costs for elected officials, but not for political parties. "We can charge this to the taxpayer, but we do not do so," Joyce said. "We always ensure that things are paid for by ourselves as much as possible in One Nation. Looking at it per person, the party does a lot on its own account and reaches into its own pocket."
A spokesperson for Rinehart's company, Hancock Prospecting, said the company owns a number of commercial properties, including this building. "Hancock does not provide free or discounted space to any external tenant, political or otherwise," the company stated. Guardian Australia contacted One Nation for comment.
According to the listing, the building has "two upper floors of spacious, bright office space, completed with a stunning balcony on the top floor overlooking the city", while the ground floor offers a boutique office, exhibition and retail space, all connected by an internal lift and direct access to ten secure parking spaces. The listing highlights the quick connection to Brisbane's business district and the location in the inner-city area of Spring Hill.
The move comes at a time when the relationship between Pauline Hanson and Gina Rinehart is under public scrutiny. The Guardian's podcast The Populist covers numerous examples of where the senator and the party she leads have received gifts or benefits. Last month, Guardian Australia revealed that Hanson and Joyce had stayed overnight at Rinehart's A$20 million villa in Brisbane, following a fundraising event for One Nation. Joyce had previously commented that he had not spoken to Rinehart for six months.
Reporting also showed that Hanson uses one of Rinehart's bodyguards for personal security. The man was seen accompanying her in Perth and Canberra, and has been one of Rinehart's closest bodyguards for over a decade. In addition, One Nation has breached rules by failing to report a number of flights provided by Hancock Prospecting to Hanson, including flights to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida and Trump's party at Mar-a-Lago. In April, Rinehart gifted Hanson a private jet worth more than A$1.5 million.
Hanson stated that Rinehart considers herself an informal policy advisor to herself and her One Nation. "My policy that retirees can work an unlimited number of hours without losing their pension or health card came from Mrs Rinehart," Hanson told ABC radio in Perth in June. "I consider her a friend and am very grateful for her support. She is an Australian identity, one of the largest taxpayers in the country."
