One Nation has announced plans to relocate its national headquarters to a high-value office building in Brisbane, which was recently acquired by mining magnate Gina Rinehart.
Barnaby Joyce, the party’s member of parliament, addressed concerns regarding the arrangement, defending the decision by confirming that One Nation will lease the space from Rinehart’s company at standard commercial rates. He emphasized that the agreement excludes any discounted or preferential pricing.
The move draws attention to the party’s history, noting its significant electoral success in Queensland during 1998 before subsequently declining. Joyce’s defense aims to clarify that the financial terms of the lease are strictly arm’s length transactions.
Markets are markets, I guess. Still, it’s an interesting alliance of convenience between a mining billionaire and a populist party.
Wait, did One Nation really decline after ’98? I honestly thought they were still a major force in Queensland politics.
Renting from Rinehart? That feels a bit odd given their political differences, but if it’s market rate, I suppose it’s fair enough.
Good to see Barnaby being transparent about the commercial rates. It takes the wind out of critics’ sails.