One Nation confirms party funds paid for $56,000 shed on Ashby's property

Australia's One Nation party has confirmed it used party funds to finance the construction of an approximately $56,000 shed on a private property owned by the party's general manager, James Ashby, in Yeppoon. Ashby is currently living in the shed while renovations are carried out on his home.

The arrangement was first revealed by Guardian Australia, which reported that the shed was purchased by a company linked to One Nation, Small Batch Brewing, despite the company having no revenue and no licence to produce or sell alcohol.

Party's explanation

In an email sent to members on Thursday night, the party's general manager, Kelvin Morton, said the party's national executive — of which Ashby is a member — unanimously approved a reinvestment package to set up Small Batch Brewing as a micro-distillery. To cut costs such as commercial rent, the executive agreed to loan the company funds to build a shed and buy distilling equipment on land owned by an executive member. The exact amount loaned for equipment was not disclosed.

Morton compared the venture to similar arrangements by other parties, noting Labor's interests in licensed clubs and the Liberal party's software company, Parakeelia. However, unlike those examples, corporate records show Small Batch Brewing is not owned by the party or party-controlled trusts — it is privately owned in equal shares by Ashby, party leader Pauline Hanson and former treasurer Alex Jones.

The party expects licensing revenue of between $400,000 and $500,000 a year, a significant jump from its current average annual alcohol revenue of $105,796. One Nation currently uses Sunshine Coast-based contract brewer CAVU to produce its existing alcohol products.

Morton said Small Batch Brewing had engaged liquor licensing consultants to finalise regulatory and tax requirements ahead of planned production starting in 2027. Ashby previously told reporters the company was a non-trading entity that would pursue licensing when appropriate.