SA Premier Peter Malinauskas says he will not be going to Brazil for COP negotiations so he can focus on saving disability employment provider Bedford, which has “days” left to secure its future.<\/p>\n
Speaking on Friday afternoon, Mr Malinauskas said there was “more than one” buyer interested in taking on Bedford, but that the government “can’t land that new buyer unless we have a holistic package that sits around it”.<\/p>\n
“The South Australian government at the highest levels, in conjunction with the federal government, are all in on trying to make sure we get the right outcome here,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We are committed to doing our level best to see a new owner of Bedford that secures the work for these employees into the future, but I don’t want to mislead people and guarantee an outcome.”<\/p>\n
Mr Malinauskas said he was “optimistic but only with the highest degree of caution” that the jobs of people employed by Bedford would be saved.<\/p>\n
“The last thing I want to do is tell everyone it’s under control and it turns out we don’t turn out landing the desired outcome,” he said.<\/p>\n
“And that’s going to take a bit of work over the weekend\u2026 I’m definitely not going to go to Brazil now.”<\/p>\n
Mr Malinauskas said there were “definitely days, not weeks” left to save the disability employment provider.<\/p>\n
“That’s why now is the time, more than ever, to get a sale finalised,” he said.<\/p>\n
“That’s going to require the support of a number of parties, the South Australian government, the federal government, Bedford, a new buyer but also the National Australia Bank.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Mr Malinauskas previously addressed the media about Bedford entering administration alongside board chair Janet Miller. (ABC News: Tim Morris)<\/p>\n
“This is why we do need a multi-faceted approach; it is complex. These negotiations have been going on for some time.”<\/p>\n
Bedford had flagged in July that it would enter administration<\/a> before the SA government stepped in several days later with a $15 million loan<\/a> in exchange for of one of Bedford’s supported accommodation sites.<\/p>\n