The situation
Real talk: the plot thickens for One Nation. The party officially admitted that $56,000 of its funds went toward building a shed located on James Ashby’s private property in Yeppoon. While Ashby is currently living in the structure during his home renovations, the party claims the cash injection was actually a loan to a company called Small Batch Brewing Pty Ltd to help kickstart a micro-distillery project.
The business logic
According to an email sent to party members by general manager Kelvin Morton, the national executive—which includes Ashby—unanimously agreed to the loan to cut down on "commercial rent and outgoings." The goal? To pivot into the alcohol business and bring in an estimated $400,000 to $500,000 in annual licensing revenue. It’s giving… a very unconventional business plan. The party currently relies on a contract brewer for its alcohol line, but they’re banking on this new venture to fund future campaigns by 2027.
The fine print
Here is where the vibes are off. While Morton tried to compare this to other political parties owning clubs or software companies, ASIC records show that Small Batch Brewing isn't actually owned by One Nation or its trusts. It’s a private company owned equally by Ashby, Pauline Hanson, and former treasurer Alex Jones. Basically, the party funded infrastructure on private land owned by its own leadership. Ashby previously confirmed that the entity is currently non-trading and still waiting on necessary licenses.
Why it matters
Political parties are usually funded by members and donors to win elections, not to play property developer or craft distiller on their leaders' private land. The optics of using membership fees to build a living space for a staffer—even with promises of future revenue—is a massive W for critics questioning how the party handles its finances.
