One Nation to establish headquarters in multimillion-dollar Brisbane office bought by Gina Rinehart

Barnaby Joyce says there’s no conflict of interest between One Nation and mining billionaire, Gina Rinehart, after it was revealed Australia’s richest woman had bought a new multimillion dollar Brisbane city office for the minor-party to lease.

The One Nation MP said the party’s national head office would pay the market rate to Rinehart’s company to rent the space, claiming there would be no mate’s rates.

“I don’t live in her [Gina’s] pocket,” Joyce told News24.

“It’s her building, it’s her lease. We’re leasing it off her at commercial rates.

“If … we’ve got an individual who’s got money, they should be allowed to spend it as they see fit.”

Rinehart’s property investment company, Hanrine, finalised the purchase of the three-storey office in the Brisbane suburb of Spring Hill last week, Queensland property titles confirm, and as first reported by The Australian newspaper on Monday.

It’s believed to be valued at around $8m, according to The Australian. Property data shows it was last sold for $2.4m in 2003.

The building has two floors with 10 parking spaces at its lower level. The sale ad boasts it comes with a “large top-floor balcony with sweeping city views”.

Joyce said One Nation would pay for the office space out of the party’s “wallet”.

A spokesperson for Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting said: “Hancock Prospecting holds a range of commercial property, and this building is one of them. Hancock is not providing free or discounted space to any outside tenant, political or otherwise.”

Guardian Australia has contacted One Nation for a response.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s relationship with Rinehart has been the subject of the Guardian’s new podcast about the party, The Populist, which detail numerous instances where the Queensland senator and her party have received gifts or benefits.

Guardian Australia revealed in September Hanson and Joyce stayed overnight at Rinehart’s $20m Brisbane mansion in April after fundraising events held for One Nation. On one occasion, Joyce conducted a live television interview with Channel Seven’s Sunrise program from a room that appears to be a bedroom in Rinehart’s home.

Joyce told News24 on Monday he hadn’t spoken to Rinehart in six months.

The reporting also revealed that Hanson has been using one of Rinehart’s bodyguards for her personal security.

The man, who has been seen escorting Hanson in Perth and Canberra, has been one of Rinehart’s closest bodyguards for more than a decade.

One Nation has also committed multiple breaches of Senate rules, with the party failing to declare a number of flights gifted by Hancock Prospecting to Hanson going back to August last year, including flights to attend a Conservative Political Action Conference in Florida and Donald Trump’s Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago.

Hanson has said she considers Rinehart an unofficial policy adviser to her and One Nation.

“My policy on pensioners being able to work unlimited hours and without losing their pension or healthcare card came from Mrs Rinehart. And I think that’s great. I listen to anyone who brings good policy to me,” Hanson told ABC radio in Perth in June.

“I consider her a friend and I’m very … grateful for her support. She’s an Australian identity, she’s one of the highest taxpayers in the country.”