Senior One Nation figures Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce have sparked debate after using a private jet owned by mining billionaire Gina Rinehart to conduct a tour of communities in Queensland affected by severe flooding over the weekend.
Private Transport for Public Visits
The politicians utilised Rinehart's Gulfstream G700 aircraft and a helicopter to travel across North Queensland, meeting with local mayors in areas battered by ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji. Joyce, who recently defected from the Nationals to One Nation, confirmed the travel arrangements and vigorously defended them.
Joyce argued that using the privately-funded jet saved taxpayers money, stating, "I've got no problems with that at all. Would people prefer the taxpayer pay for it?" The pair were photographed by locals disembarking from the plane in Mount Isa on Sunday, carrying grocery bags before a subsequent flight to Julia Creek.
A Pattern of Sponsored Travel
This incident is not an isolated one. Rinehart, a longtime financial backer of both Hanson and Joyce, has a history of providing travel to political figures. Guardian Australia recently revealed that in October, Hanson and her chief of staff flew on Rinehart's jet to Florida, where they attended a Halloween party at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.
Under parliamentary rules, MPs and senators must declare any sponsored travel or hospitality valued over $300 within strict timeframes. Following the revelation of her Florida trip, Hanson's office lodged an amendment to properly declare the sponsored travel with the Registrar of Senators' Interests.
Political Context and Rising Support
Joyce framed the Queensland visit as a crucial show of solidarity, stating that in such crises, "you'd be more noted by your absence than your participation." He emphasised One Nation's intention to listen to locals and advocate for recovery support.
The trip occurs against a backdrop of rising support for One Nation. A recent Demos poll for Capital Brief placed primary support for the party above 20%, putting it level with the Coalition. Joyce's defection to the party in early December has fuelled speculation that he may eventually succeed Hanson as leader after the next federal election, due in 2028.
While the focus of the weekend was on flood recovery, the use of a billionaire's private jet has inevitably shifted attention to questions of political influence, transparency, and the perception of access afforded to major political donors.
