Gina Rinehart buys $8m Brisbane office for One Nation headquarters

Mining billionaire's company purchased the Spring Hill property; Barnaby Joyce insists party will pay commercial rent

By LineZotpaper

Published5 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources4 outlets

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has purchased an $8 million office property in inner-city Brisbane that will become the new national headquarters for Pauline Hanson's One Nation party, drawing scrutiny over the close ties between the party and its biggest donor.

Rinehart's property investment company Hanrine, a subsidiary of Hancock Prospecting, finalised the purchase of a three-storey office in the Brisbane suburb of Spring Hill last week, according to Queensland property titles. The building was last sold for $2.4 million in 2003.

One Nation plans to relocate its headquarters from its current Brisbane Airport base once a suitable fit-out is completed. A spokesman for Rinehart confirmed the purchase, stating that Hancock Prospecting holds a range of commercial properties and that this building is one of them.

The spokesman insisted the party would not be given free or discounted rent, saying: "Hancock is not providing free or discounted space to any outside tenant, political or otherwise." The spokesman did not respond to questions about who would cover the cost of the fit-out.

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce defended the arrangement, telling News24 that the party would pay the market rate to Rinehart's company. "I don't live in her [Gina's] pocket," Joyce said. "It's her building, it's her lease. We're leasing it off her at commercial rates."

Joyce said One Nation would pay for the office space out of the party's "wallet". Under parliamentary business resources rules, the commonwealth only pays for office space for elected officials, not political parties. "We can put on the taxpayers' ticket but we don't," Joyce said. "We always make sure we pay for things ourselves as best we can in One Nation."

The real estate listing describes the building as having "two upper levels of spacious, light-filled office accommodation, complemented by a stunning top-floor balcony offering expansive views of the city, perfect for corporate gatherings". The ground level provides a boutique office, showroom and retail space, connected via an internal lift with access to 10 secure onsite car parks.

Rinehart has been One Nation's largest donor. The Guardian's podcast series "The Populist" has detailed numerous instances where Senator Hanson and her party have received gifts or benefits from the mining magnate.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Raises questions about the influence of wealthy individual donors on political parties, particularly when the donor also provides tangible assets like office space.
Highlights the ongoing financial relationship between Gina Rinehart and One Nation, a party that portrays itself as an anti-establishment alternative to major parties.
The arrangement draws attention to political donation and transparency laws in Australia, and how parties fund their operations outside of taxpayer-funded resources.

Background

Gina Rinehart, Australia's wealth person, is the executive chair of Hancock Prospecting and has long been a significant donor to One Nation. Her financial backing has been a recurring subject of media scrutiny and academic analysis. One Nation, led by Senator Pauline Hanson, has historically positioned itself as a populist party critical of both major parties and of corporate influence in politics, making this property deal a notable point of tension. The party's current headquarters are located near Brisbane Airport.

Key Perspectives

[One Nation]: The party insists it will pay commercial rent for the space and that the arrangement is an arm's-length business transaction. Barnaby Joyce has framed the deal as a legitimate use of private funds by an individual supporter, rather than drawing on taxpayer resources. [Hancock Prospecting / Gina Rinehart]: Through a spokesman, the company has stated it owns a range of commercial properties and that this building is simply one of them, denying it is providing any discounted or free space. [Critics]: The deal reinforces perceptions of undue influence by a single wealthy donor over a political party. Critics argue that such close financial ties blur the line between legitimate support and potential conflicts of interest, especially given Rinehart's business interests in mining and resources policy.

What to Watch

Whether the rental rate and fit-out costs are disclosed publicly, and whether they align with market rates for comparable properties in Spring Hill.
Any updates to donation or transparency rules triggered by this transaction.
Further reporting from The Guardian's podcast series "The Populist" on the relationship between Rinehart and One Nation.

Sources

Rinehart’s new $8m office to become One Nation headquarters — The Age - Latest News
One Nation to establish headquarters in multimillion-dollar Brisbane office bought by Gina Rinehart — World news | The Guardian
One Nation to establish headquarters in multimillion-dollar Brisbane office bought by Gina Rinehart — Australia news | The Guardian
One Nation to establish headquarters in multimillion-dollar Brisbane office bought by Gina Rinehart — Business | The Guardian