Source : Perth Now news
MP Barnaby Joyce has denied any “conflict of interest” with billionaire Gina Rinehart after she bought an inner-city Brisbane office to lease to One Nation for its new headquarters.
Ms Rinehart, Australia’s richest person, splashed $8m on the three-storey building via Hanrine Investments, a subsidiary of her mining firm Hancock Prospecting.
Mr Joyce said on Monday that Ms Rinehart was free to spend her money as she liked.
“It’s her building. It’s her lease. We’re leasing it off her at commercial rates,” he told News24.
“We’ve got an individual who’s got money – they should be allowed to spend it as they see fit.
“If they want to support One Nation, knock yourself out.”
He went on to say the alternative to taking Ms Rinehart’s support is billing taxpayers instead.
“We always make sure we pay for things ourselves as best we can in One Nation,” Mr Joyce said.
Ms Rinehart has previously showered One Nation leader Pauline Hanson with gifts, including a private plane worth $1.5m.
Ms Rinehart also at least partly sponsored Senator Hanson’s travel to Europe in June when the pair were spotted at a resort in southern Italy.
During that trip, Senator Hanson met with a range of far-right and fringe figures, including anti-Islam campaigner Tommy Robinson.
Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has a string of convictions as well as ties to Russian state media.
Senator Hanson returned from her European jaunt to criticise federal regulations she claimed needlessly hampered mining projects.
The comments, made during her first media event back in Australia, echoed Ms Rinehart’s criticisms.
Senator Hanson also described Ms Rinehart as “wonderful”.
“She’s a very smart, clever woman … she’s a very proud, patriotic Australian and she sees the same in me, that’s why she backs me,” Senator Hanson said of the mining magnate.
