Barnaby Joyce has defended One Nation’s plan to move its headquarters to a multimillion-dollar Brisbane office building bought by the mining billionaire Gina Rinehart.
The One Nation MP said the party’s national head office would pay the market rate to Rinehart’s company to rent the space, claiming there would be no mate’s rates.
“I don’t live in her [Gina’s] pocket,” Joyce told News24. “It’s her building, it’s her lease. We’re leasing it off her at commercial rates. If we’ve got an individual who’s got money, they should be allowed to spend it as they see fit.”
Rinehart’s property investment company Hanrine finalised the purchase of the three-storey office in the Brisbane suburb of Spring Hill last week. The party’s headquarters will relocate there from its Brisbane airport office once a re-fit is complete.
The office is believed to be valued at about $8 million, according to The Australian. Property data shows it was last sold for $2.4 million in 2003.
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.”
A spokesperson for Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting said: “Hancock Prospecting holds a range of commercial property, and this building is one of them. Hancock is not providing free or discounted space to any outside tenant, political or otherwise.”
The building is described in a real estate listing 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”.
Pauline Hanson’s relationship with Rinehart has been covered in the Guardian’s podcast The Populist, which details numerous instances when the Queensland senator and the party she leads have received gifts or benefits.