Bob Day

Robert (Bob) John Day AO is a businessman in South Australia. He is the founder of various residential building companies and a former Liberal Party and Family First Party political candidate.

Business

He was a founder of "Homestead Homes" and "Home Australia", which now also owns "Collier Homes" in Western Australia, "Newstart Homes" in Queensland, "Ashford Homes" in Victoria and "Huxley Homes" in New South Wales. These are all major constructors of new houses in their respective states. He is the founder of "Oz Homes Foundation", and is managing director of "Home Australia". [cite web|url=http://www.homeaustralia.com.au/index.html |title=Home Australia |publisher=Home Australia |accessdate=2007-11-05 |format=Click on "About Us"] Day's business activities have made him a millionaire. [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24087075-2702,00.html Loyal Lib quits over Mayo: The Australian 28/7/2008] ]

Day was the long-time secretary of the New Right-influenced HR Nicholls Society and a founder of "Independent Contractors of Australia" (ICA) - a front group campaigning for labour market deregulation in Australia. According to John Stone of the HR Nicholls Society, "one of the most active members of that Association (ICA), Mr Bob Day, has been a member of the (HR Nicholls) Society's Board of Management almost from the outset. I do not think he will contradict me if I say that he has taken the ethos of the Society into the work of the Association." [ [http://www.hrnicholls.com.au/archives/vol27/vol27-3.php HR Nicholls: Let's Start All Over Again: The Origins and Influence of the HR Nicholls Society] ] [ [http://solidarity.redrag.net/2006/06/21/independent-contractors-australia Who’s behind the Independent Contractors Act? by Trevor Cormack, Solidarity, 21/6/2006] ] Day was also a former board member of the Centre for Independent Studies - a classical liberal Australian think tank.

Community

He also holds the following positions within the community:
* Chairman of the North East Development Agency and North East Vocational College.
* Patron of the North East Keep Kids Safe drug education program.
* Member of the National Work for the Dole Advisory Committee.

Trees for life

Day has planted several thousand trees for farmers and land owners across the State, and undertook a roadside planting, irrigation and re-vegetation program along North East Road including a local school. [http://pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=132978&Itemid=31]

Order of Australia

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the housing industry and to social welfare, on Australia Day 2003.

Politics

Liberal Party of Australia

Day was the candidate in the Division of Makin for the Liberal Party of Australia in the 2007 election, one of the three marginal seats in South Australia lost to the Australian Labor Party. On a two party preferred vote of 57.70% to Labor, it is the safest of the 23 seats they won from the coalition at the election.

Family First Party

Day decided to run as a Family First Party candidate at the 2008 Mayo by-election, after resigning his 20-year membership of the Liberal Party, accusing the party of a "manipulated" process which saw former Howard government advisor chiefly for WorkChoices, Jamie Briggs, gain preselection. [ [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,24119440-2682,00.html Disgruntled Lib in Mayo power play: The Advertiser 3/8/2008] ] Although endorsed by former Treasurer Peter Costello, the Liberal preselection process saw Day gain 10 of 271 votes. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/family-with-the-odd-black-sheep/2008/08/14/1218307111871.html Family with the odd black sheep: SMH 15/8/2008] ] Labor did not contest the blue-ribbon seat, and on a two-party result of 57 percent at the previous election, the Liberals retained the seat in the by-election, with the Greens falling a few percent short of a two-party majority. Family First and Day received around 11 percent of the primary vote, behind the Australian Greens on around 21 percent and independent Diane Bell on around 16 percent. [ [http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-13826-188.htm AEC results: Mayo by-election 2008] ]

References

External links

* [http://sa.familyfirst.org.au/index_files/bobday4mayo.htm Mayo by-election campaign website: Family First]