Bob Day has “forgiven” a $1.4m loan to Family First as part of the continuing fallout associated with the collapse of his building empire.
The Family First Senator confirmed this week he was quitting politics after his building company, Home Australia Pty Ltd, went into liquidation.
The advisory firm McGrathNicol has been appointed liquidator of Home Australia Pty Ltd and each of its wholly owned subsidiaries.
A new return published by the Australian Electoral Commission shows Day has forgiven the loan, made in the 2013-14 financial year, to Family First.
Day has been a substantial personal backer of Family First over several years. His loans and donations to the political party in recent times are in the order of $1.7m.
The Greens have been pursuing the issue of Day’s loans to Family First, requesting a compliance review from the AEC in June. The AEC has confirmed it is looking into the issues.
The South Australian government has also taken issue with the payments. Its treasurer, Tom Koutsantonis, declared this week the collapse of Home Australia had left a “trail of destruction”, including 200 people left with unfinished homes.
Day told the Adelaide Advertiser there was no trail of destruction associated with his construction empire.
“The only trail of destruction in South Australia is Mr Koutsantonis’ government’s failed wind farm experiment.”
