One Nation has rushed to explain to members why it used party funds to build a shed on federal director James Ashby’s private land to help launch the micro distillery business he co-owns with leader Pauline Hanson.
asserted
he → rush → Hanson
The party’s general manager, Kelvin Morton, told supporters in an email on Thursday night that while the Small Batch Brewing endeavour may appear unconventional, One Nation had approved a loan for the business to support future campaigns and the party’s expanding overheads.
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Nation → tell → campaigns
Morton’s note was in response to reporting from The Guardian, which revealed Small Batch Brewing – privately owned by Ashby, Hanson and treasurer Alex Jones – had built the $56,000 shed on Ashby’s Queensland property.
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Brewing → reveal → property
The outlet reported Ashby, until recently Hanson’s long-term chief of staff and key strategist, was living in the shed while his home was undergoing renovations.
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home → report → renovations
One Nation’s finances have been closely scrutinised as the party soars in the polls and expands rapidly, fielding candidates in all seats in the looming Victorian election.
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party → scrutinise → election
Morton said One Nation approved the “reinvestment package” to establish the brewery.
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Nation → say → brewery
“In an effort to minimise costs, including commercial rent and outgoings, it was unanimously agreed that One Nation would loan Small Batch Brewing the establishment costs for a shed and distilling equipment, which could be placed on land owned by a member of the executive,” he said.
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he → minimise → executive
“As One Nation grows, so too does our need to increase staffing numbers and move into larger premises.”
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need → grow → premises
He said the recently completed 64-square-metre Colorbond shed was built on Ashby’s property in Yeppoon because that was where the party’s master distiller was located.
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distiller → say → Yeppoon
Morton said Small Batch Brewing was awaiting liquor licence approval and final ATO requirements before beginning production next year.
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Brewing → say → production
“One Nation anticipates licensing revenue of between $400,000 – $500,000 per annum based on projected sales.
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Nation → anticipate → sales
This represents a significant increase in alcohol revenue from our average of $105,796 each year,” he said, pointing to the party’s Please Explain gin launched in partnership with Sunshine Coast distiller CAVU.
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he → represent → CAVU
“The gin’s success provided the finances to launch One Nation’s hugely popular Please Explain cartoon series.
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success → provide → series
Rum and vodka soon followed, providing One Nation a passive revenue stream of $528,983.79 in licensing arrangements,” he said.
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he → follow → arrangements
Morton said the party was confident members would appreciate the business as an opportunity to fund future campaigns.
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members → say → campaigns
“While Small Batch Brewing may appear on the surface as unconventional, One Nation are not alone in our investment decisions.
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Nation → appear → decisions
Labor have several investment arms, including licensed clubs with pokies and commercial premises,” he said.
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he → have → pokies
“The Liberals have the Cormack Foundation and Parakeelia, which provides parliamentary offices with software and data management.
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which → have → management
“The Greens, Liberals, Labor and Nationals have historically produced their own types of alcohol, however none as successful as One Nation.”
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Greens → produce → Nation
Those major party ventures are not owned by private individuals.
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ventures → own → individuals
This masthead revealed earlier this week that the party failed to declare a $100,000 plane as a political donation, even after an investigation by the Australian Electoral Commission prompted the donor himself to make a declaration.
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investigation → reveal → declaration
The plane was registered in Ashby’s name.
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plane → register → name
In a police statement seen by this masthead, one former staff member reported the matter as a possible misappropriation.
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member → see → misappropriation
The party has also publicly reported racking up $400,000 in debts to Hanson over the past decade, without corresponding records to show she had lent the money in the first place.
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she → report → place
A tally of known payments by Hanson plus the debt figures suggest the party founder has offered loans totalling nearly $1 million since her campaign to re-enter parliament in 2016.
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founder → know → 2016
Hanson and Ashby also used party funds to pay for a five-star London hotel during a recent trip to Europe.
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Hanson → use → Europe
Jones, who oversees the party’s books, pleaded guilty to electoral fraud in 2022 for backdating funding claims, with no conviction recorded.
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conviction → oversee → claims
Ashby was contacted for comment.
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Ashby → contact → comment
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Subscribers → sign → newsletter
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