One Nation admits using party funds for $56k shed on Ashby's property

In the long tradition of political parties blurring the line between institutional purpose and private benefit, One Nation has acknowledged directing party funds toward a shed built on executive member James Ashby's personal land in Queensland — a structure now serving as his temporary residence. The party frames the arrangement as a forward-looking business investment through a company called Small Batch Brewing, projecting handsome future returns, yet the company holds no license, has earned no revenue, and is privately owned by Ashby, Pauline Hanson, and a former party treasurer. When the c

Party money into a privately owned venture on an executive member's land

One Nation's shed arrangement raises questions about how party funds are being deployed and who ultimately benefits.

Mark

So One Nation is saying they loaned money to a company to build a shed on Ashby's land. Why does that matter? Isn't a party allowed to invest in businesses?

Mimi

Parties do invest in ventures, sure. But this one has some odd features. The shed cost $56,000 and was built on Ashby's private property—he's living in it right now. The company that nominally owns it, Small Batch Brewing, has no revenue and no alcohol license yet.

Luke

Wait—they're building a distillery shed that can't legally operate? And it's on a private citizen's land?

Mimi

Exactly. The party says it's a cost-saving measure, avoiding commercial rent. But the company is privately owned by Ashby, Pauline Hanson, and the former treasurer as equal partners. It's not owned by the party itself.

Mark

So party money went into a structure on private land that benefits private shareholders?

Mimi

That's the tension. The party frames it as a business investment that will generate $400,000 to $500,000 a year once it's licensed and operating in 2027. They're comparing it to Labor's club interests and the Liberal's software company.

Luke

But those are party-owned or party-controlled. This isn't. And we don't know how much was lent for equipment, only the shed cost.

Mark

What's the actual legal question here?

Luke

That's still unclear. The arrangement is disclosed now, which is something. But whether party funds flowing to a privately owned venture on an executive member's property crosses any regulatory line—that's what regulators would need to examine.

Mimi

The party seems confident about it. Morton told members they'd see updates and promised a profitable venture. But the whole thing won't actually operate until next year.

Mark

So we're waiting to see if this actually generates the revenue they're projecting?

Mimi

And whether regulators think the arrangement was appropriate in the first place.

The Pulse

Party funds were used to build a $56,000 shed on an executive member's private land — a structure he is currently living in — raising immediate questions about self-dealing at the heart of One Nation's finances.
The vehicle for the transaction, Small Batch Brewing Pty Ltd, has no revenue, no alcohol license, and no production history, making the party's rosy projections of $400,000–$500,000 in annual licensing income difficult to verify or trust.
Rather than being owned by the party or a party-controlled trust, the company is split equally between Ashby, Hanson, and former treasurer Jones — a private arrangement that sets it apart from the Labor and Liberal precedents the party invokes as justification.
The party's general manager moved to contain the story with a member email framing the deal as a unanimous executive decision and a savvy reinvestment, but the disclosure itself came only after Guardian Australia's reporting forced the issue into the open.
Regulatory scrutiny is now expected, with liquor licensing consultants engaged and ATO obligations looming, as the arrangement's unusual structure draws the kind of attention that optimistic Christmas spirit announcements are unlikely to dispel.

One Nation has confirmed it used party money to fund a $56,000 shed built on James Ashby's private property in Yeppoon, Queensland — a disclosure that arrived in a member email from general manager Kelvin Morton, sent after Guardian Australia had already reported the arrangement earlier in the week.

The shed was nominally acquired by Small Batch Brewing Pty Ltd, a company the party describes as linked to its operations. In practice, the entity has generated no revenue and holds no license to produce or sell alcohol. Ashby, a member of One Nation's national executive, is currently living in the structure while his home is renovated.

Morton's email cast the transaction as a deliberate business decision, explaining that the national executive — Ashby included — had unanimously approved a reinvestment into Small Batch Brewing to establish a micro distillery. The party loaned the company money for both the shed and distilling equipment, placing the structure on Ashby's land to avoid commercial rent. The full amount lent for equipment has not been disclosed.

The party projects the venture will generate between $400,000 and $500,000 in annual licensing revenue once production begins in 2027, compared to its current alcohol revenue of roughly $105,000 per year. Morton drew comparisons to Labor's interests in licensed clubs and the Liberal Party's software company Parakeelia to argue the arrangement was unconventional but legitimate.

Those comparisons, however, obscure a critical difference: Small Batch Brewing is not owned by One Nation or any party-controlled trust. Corporate records show it is held equally by Ashby, Hanson, and former party treasurer Alex Jones — a private ownership structure that places the company's future profits in personal rather than institutional hands.

The party has since engaged liquor licensing consultants and is navigating ATO obligations ahead of the projected 2027 start. Morton closed his message with characteristic optimism, promising members updates and hinting at a festive collaborative spirit release before Christmas. Whether regulators will share that warmth remains to be seen.

One Nation has acknowledged using party money to finance a $56,000 shed constructed on James Ashby's private property in Yeppoon, Queensland. The revelation came through an email sent Thursday night by the party's general manager, Kelvin Morton, to party members—a disclosure that followed Guardian Australia's reporting earlier in the week about the unusual arrangement.

The shed was nominally purchased by Small Batch Brewing Pty Ltd, a company the party describes as linked to its operations. Yet the entity had generated no revenue and held no license to manufacture or sell alcohol. Ashby, a member of One Nation's national executive, is currently living in the structure while his main residence undergoes renovation.

Morton's email framed the transaction as a calculated business decision. He explained that One Nation's national executive, which includes Ashby, had unanimously approved a "reinvestment package" into Small Batch Brewing to establish a micro distillery operation. The party loaned the company money for both the shed and distilling equipment, positioning the structure on land owned by an executive member to keep costs down by avoiding commercial rent and associated expenses. The total amount lent for brewing equipment remains undisclosed.

The party's financial projections are substantial. Morton told members One Nation anticipated licensing revenue between $400,000 and $500,000 annually once production begins in 2027—a dramatic jump from the party's current average alcohol revenue of roughly $105,796 per year. The party currently contracts with CAVU, a Sunshine Coast-based brewer, to produce its existing alcohol line. Morton characterized the venture as unconventional but legitimate, drawing comparisons to Labor's interests in licensed clubs and the Liberal Party's software company Parakeelia.

However, the structure of Small Batch Brewing differs meaningfully from those precedents. Corporate filings show the company is not owned by One Nation or party-controlled trusts. Instead, it is privately held by three equal shareholders: Ashby, party leader Pauline Hanson, and Alex Jones, the party's former treasurer. This private ownership arrangement sits at the center of the arrangement's unusual character.

Ashby previously told Guardian Australia that Small Batch Brewing remained "currently a non-trading entity" and would proceed through licensing applications "when the time is right." The company has now engaged liquor licensing consultants to navigate regulatory requirements and Australian Taxation Office obligations ahead of the projected 2027 production start.

Morton closed his message to members with optimism, expressing confidence that party supporters would recognize the business opportunity as a revenue driver for future campaigns and promising updates on Small Batch Brewing's progress, along with anticipation of "a special joint partner spirit ahead of Christmas." The arrangement now faces scrutiny as questions linger about the propriety of party funds flowing to a privately owned venture benefiting an executive member's property.

Notable Quotes

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.

— Kelvin Morton, One Nation general manager, in email to party members

Small Batch Brewing was described as currently a non-trading entity that will proceed through necessary licensing applications when the time is right.

— James Ashby

Want the full story? Read the original at The Guardian ↗

One Nation admits using party funds for $56k shed on Ashby's property

The Pulse

Notable Quotes

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