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World

One Nation admits using party funds to build $56,000 shed on James Ashby's private property

One Nation has admitted using party funds to build a $56,000 shed on national director James Ashby's private property, telling members the party loaned money to a party-linked company to build the structure and set up a micro distillery.

By Priya Raman · · 1 min read

James Ashby, national director of Australia's One Nation party
mark furler / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

One Nation has admitted using party funds to build a $56,000 shed on national director James Ashby’s private property, telling members the money was loaned to a company linked to the party.

In an email to members, reported by Guardian Australia’s Sarah Martin on 24 September, the party said it had loaned funds to Small Batch Brewing Pty Ltd to build the structure and establish a micro distillery on the land.

Guardian Australia revealed on Monday that Small Batch Brewing Pty Ltd — jointly owned by Ashby, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, and national treasurer Alexander Jones — was named as the buyer of the shed on land near Yeppoon, Queensland. Land records show Ashby bought the plot in 2025, and Ashby regularly conducts live television appearances for News24, formerly Sky News, from the building. Livingstone Shire Council has also given permission for a house and an in-ground swimming pool on the plot.

The company has neither an alcohol sales licence nor the excise licence required in Australia to manufacture alcoholic products. Ashby told the Guardian it is not currently conducting commercial activity and will pursue the necessary licensing and approvals when the time is right. Australian Securities and Investments Commission data shows the company’s principal place of business is One Nation’s Brisbane headquarters.

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