Family First senator Bob Day may stay on in the Senate if a new investor revives his embattled building company.
In a statement released on Friday afternoon on Twitter, Day said a new investor had been in regular contact with his company’s liquidator, McGrathNicol. He said other offers had also been received.
Whether or not he remains in the Senate long term, Day vowed to return to the Senate for the 7 November sitting week to ensure he could vote on the bills relating to the same-sex marriage plebiscite and the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
“The votes are tight on the marriage plebiscite and ABCC – and I support both,” he said. “The backpacker tax must be fixed before the end of the sitting year and I want to ensure the tax rate is satisfactory to farmers and hospitality industry alike.”
Day said McGrathNicol would assess the offers and a creditor’s meeting would be held next Friday.
“Shortly after my 17 October announcement, a new investor expressed interest in reviving the group,” Day said. “If new investment revives the company, if houses are being completed and trade contractors and others were being paid, then I may continue as a senator.
“If not my resignation will proceed and I will devote myself to assisting those affected by the group’s closure.”
It is the latest twist in the saga that led to Day resigning after he appointed McGrathNicol to take charge of the Home Australia Group, which has left 200 houses unfinished and a large number of contractors unpaid. Earlier this week Day announced he would delay his resignation to give his party time to select his replacement as the Coalition is counting on his vote for the plebiscite and the industrial relations bills.
And it comes a day after a spokesman for McGrathNicol revealed that Day’s housing empire owes a total of $37.8m.
A spokesman for McGrathNicol told Guardian Australia on Thursday that the seven companies owed unsecured creditors a total of $19.6m.
The figure dwarfs initial estimates that unsecured creditors were owed $12.5m.
The companies owe a total of $18.2m in secured debt, of which National Australia Bank is owed $17.5m. Those debts will take priority over those of the unsecured creditors.
