Financial Practices, Travel Expenses, and Donation Arrangements Involving One Nation, Pauline Hanson, and Gina Rinehart

A consolidation of verified facts from available sources

Multiple reports have examined financial practices, travel expenses, and donation arrangements involving One Nation, its leader Pauline Hanson, and mining magnate Gina Rinehart. The following presents verified facts from available sources without commentary or judgment.

Campaign Finance Allegations

Victorian Byelection Context

One Nation has denied reports that its Victorian state president, Warren Pickering, advised a candidate to use a personal bank account for campaign finances. The party stated no personal bank account was used but did not address specific questions about whether such advice was given.

The byelection for the Mornington Peninsula seat occurred on 2 May, triggered by the resignation of Sam Groth following a defamation battle and infighting within the Victorian Liberal party. Nine newspapers reported that two former One Nation members raised concerns regarding advice about campaign donations and had since quit the party over the handling of donations.

Legal Framework

Under Victoria's electoral laws at the time, all donations were required to go into an account registered with the electoral commission. The High Court scrapped those laws on Wednesday. The Victorian government has pledged to introduce new accountability laws, which it says will apply retrospectively.

Press Conference Statements

Pauline Hanson described the allegations as "false" and stated there was "no separate bank account," only an account set up for the campaign. She attributed the claims to "disgruntled former members" and said she would sue those who made them.

Candidate Darren Hercus said the situation was "in the hands of the lawyers" and that he was not commenting. He later stated he was using his personal credit card to fund his campaign.

When asked if Pickering gave the advice, Pickering, speaking from the sidelines, said the state executive would have given "rational, logical advice."

Financial Records

Missing and Worthless Assets

Guardian Australia reported that One Nation has over $1 million in missing and worthless assets in financial records from 2016 to 2022.

The financial returns, lodged with the Queensland Office of Fair Trading, were described by accounting professor Matthew Pinnuck as "sloppy and unprofessional."

Key issues include:

• Failure to hold annual general meetings on time
• Late or missing filings
• Using a non-director to sign a director's declaration
• The 2021 balance sheet showed property and equipment worth $93,000, but the party reported purchasing $575,710 and selling $492,491 in such assets
• In 2020, the party wrote off over $100,000 in office equipment as worthless in the same year of purchase
• The party reported financial losses of $1.05 million in 2022, $517,000 in 2021, compared to a $2.2 million surplus in 2020
• One Nation invested $500,000 in the collapsed Mayfair Platinum scheme; the investment was still listed as a current asset worth $265,000–$300,000 in 2021 and 2022
• Legal fees rose to almost $200,000 in 2022

One Nation failed to file annual returns since 2022. A show cause notice was issued after years of late filings. The party held its 2021 and 2022 AGMs on February 18, 2023, breaching legal requirements.

Parliamentary Travel Expenses

Flight to Marcus Oldham College

Pauline Hanson charged taxpayers $8,870 for a chartered flight from Tamworth to Avalon in October 2025 to attend the opening of new student accommodation at Marcus Oldham College in Geelong, which received a $2 million donation from Gina Rinehart.

A spokesperson for Hanson stated the cheapest available option was chosen, citing a lack of commercial flights between Tamworth and Avalon. Hanson had been in Tamworth for a party dinner on October 18.

Parliamentary rules require MPs and senators to ensure claims meet a "dominant purpose test" of parliamentary business and demonstrate "value for money."

Hobart and Florida Trip

Senator Hanson used taxpayer-funded flights costing $1,990 to travel from Hobart to Brisbane in October 2024 to board a private jet to Florida, paid for by mining magnate Gina Rinehart. She also billed taxpayers $505 for a Comcar upon her return from Florida to Brisbane.

The Hobart trip included a $768 flight from Brisbane to Hobart, where she stayed four nights and opened the Bass branch of One Nation with her daughter.

Tamworth/Melbourne Trip

Senator Hanson claimed $650 for Brisbane to Sydney, $372 for Sydney to Tamworth, and an $8,870 chartered flight from Tamworth to Melbourne. She also used a $1,090 taxpayer-funded flight from Sydney to Brisbane after a Rinehart-paid flight from Melbourne to Sydney. Total taxpayer cost: approximately $11,000.

In Tamworth, she attended a fundraising event and opened a One Nation branch. In Melbourne, she attended the opening of a Rinehart-funded student accommodation block. The trip coincided with Barnaby Joyce's announcement that he would not recontest his seat for the Nationals and later defected to One Nation.

Previous Review

Hanson's use of taxpayer-funded travel was previously subject to an assurance review by the independent expenses watchdog after she claimed almost $5,000 to attend Gina Rinehart's 70th birthday party in Perth in 2024. Her office provided diary entries showing meetings with senior executives from Rinehart's company, Hancock Prospecting, which were used to justify the trip as related to parliamentary duties. She was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Fundraising Events on Rinehart's Cruise Ship

December 2022 Events

Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce attended multiple private events in December 2022 on the luxury cruise ship The World, owned by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart. Both politicians claimed taxpayer-funded travel for these events, which included fundraising activities.

• 17 December 2022 in Brisbane: Rinehart hosted a fundraiser on The World, auctioning a dinner with Donald Trump and Trump-branded handbags, raising $300,000 for One Nation. Joyce claimed a flight from Sydney to Brisbane ($1,264 total for two events) and $1,500 in accommodation.

• 22 December 2022 in Sydney: Another private event on The World with donors occurred. Joyce claimed a flight from Tamworth to Sydney (part of the $1,264 total). Hanson claimed a return day trip flight from Brisbane to Sydney ($720) and a taxpayer-funded Comcar.

• 2 January 2023 in Hobart: Hanson and her daughter Lee hosted a private lunch on The World for business leaders. Hanson did not claim flights for this event.

Barnaby Joyce confirmed attending the fundraisers, stating they were "of no personal benefit" and part of his job. He said his office handled the expense claims and followed the rules.

South Australian Election Campaign

Private Plane Usage

South Australian One Nation lead candidate Cory Bernardi and federal party leader Pauline Hanson utilized a private plane owned by S. Kidman & Co, a company majority owned by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart, for their state election campaign.

This marks the first state election since new laws banning private donations to political parties were implemented in July last year. These laws prohibit accepting electoral donations to registered political parties, members of parliament, candidates, or groups, with certain exceptions and caps for new entrants and non-incumbents.

The Labor Party has contacted the state's electoral commissioner to investigate the use of the private plane and assess its compliance with the Electoral Act.

Statements from Parties

Cory Bernardi stated that the flights were not an in-kind political donation and that he would pay for his seat on the plane. Senator Hanson also indicated her understanding that Mr. Bernardi would cover the cost of the flights.

Pauline Hanson's federal register of interests includes a thank you to S Kidman & Co for flights between March 14 and 15, and to S. Kidman CEO Adam Giles for other flights.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas described the situation as "extraordinary" and called for an explanation from One Nation.

The flights occurred over several days, including travel between Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Maitland on the Yorke Peninsula, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, and Coober Pedy.

Regulatory Framework

The SA Electoral Commission did not comment specifically on the flights. However, they provided general information stating that registered political parties without an incumbent member of parliament may accept electoral donations up to the legislative cap of $5,000. The commission also noted that contravening the registration requirement for third parties spending over $10,000 is a criminal offense.

Private plane operating costs are estimated at a minimum of $3,000 per hour. The state laws do not apply if a donation is used for a federal purpose.

Declaration Compliance

Undeclared Flights

Senator Hanson faced questioning regarding six additional flights taken on Gina Rinehart's company jets that were not declared within the required 35-day period.

Hanson initially did not declare a flight from Melbourne's Essendon airport to Sydney on Rinehart's Gulfstream G700 in line with Senate rules. She updated the register after Guardian Australia published details of her undeclared flights.

In 2024, Hanson similarly did not properly declare that she and her chief of staff, James Ashby, had received flights from Rinehart's company, Hancock Prospecting, for travel to and from Florida, where they stayed at Rinehart's Palm Beach mansion.

Statements on Rinehart Relationship

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has confirmed that Gina Rinehart is a "substantial supporter" of the party. Hanson has used Rinehart's private plane multiple times.

When questioned at a press conference in Adelaide about receiving flights or transfers from Hancock Prospecting, Hanson initially responded, "No… if you are going to try to say that I am being funded by Gina Rinehart, the answer is no." Asked again, Hanson stated, "I can't remember."

Senator Hanson defended Rinehart-sponsored flights as saving taxpayer money, stating: "These flights are no cost to the taxpayer. It didn't cost the taxpayer a cent for me to fly on a plane."

Broader Context

Political Donations and Expenditure

One Nation is facing scrutiny regarding its expenditure of taxpayer funds. An investigation published this week reported that former candidates stated they had not yet received their share of more than $6 million the party received after the 2025 federal election.

One Nation did not respond to questions for that story but has previously stated that its national and state finances are regularly audited by chartered accountants and electoral commissions.

Regulatory Response

The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) requires taxpayer-funded flights to serve a "dominant purpose" of parliamentary business and adhere to value-for-money principles. Party political duties can include formal party meetings or national conferences, but the IPEA has not commented on this specific case.

One Nation has stated that the party's accounts would be audited by the electoral commission.