The Hon. Shane Love, Opposition Leader, Media Release, 10 March 2025

Opposition Leader Shane Love MLA has called for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the conduct of 2025 State Election, following serious concerns about the performance of the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC).

Mr Love said the widespread issues reported during the election demanded a full, independent investigation through a bipartisan Upper House Committee.

“The first order of business for the new Parliament must be to suspend the Electoral Commissioner while a thorough inquiry into the conduct of the WAEC at the election is held. This must include whether the Electoral Commissioner was competent and capable of performing their duties,” Mr Love said.

“These are not minor administrative issues – they go to the heart of public confidence in our democratic system.”

Mr Love said the WAEC’s controversial decision to outsource core election functions to the private multinational labour hire company, PersolKelly, was a significant departure from past practice and needed close scrutiny.

“Outsourcing the administration of our State Election to an untested external contractor is unprecedented and deeply concerning,” Mr Love said.

“Elections should be conducted by an independent, publicly funded electoral commission, not a private recruitment agency.”

Mr Love said the WAEC could not be left to investigate its own failures, and an Upper House Committee was the appropriate body to conduct an impartial and transparent inquiry.

“Asking the WAEC to investigate itself would be like asking the fox to review the security of the henhouse. A Parliamentary Committee with the power to call witnesses and conduct public hearings is essential.”

Mr Love said the inquiry must consider multiple failings reported on polling day, including staffing shortages, ballot paper shortages, and reports that PersolKelly staff incorrectly denied votes to electors who did not present identification – despite ID not being required under WA law.

He also said the WAEC’s decision not to provide remote polling in several communities must be examined.

“Many voters felt disenfranchised. The reports we’ve received from across the State are troubling, and suggest a system stretched beyond capacity.”

Mr Love said the Opposition had repeatedly raised concerns about the resourcing and capacity of the WAEC over the past year.

“With three tranches of electoral changes by the Cook Labor Government, we knew this election would be like no other, and it is clear the WAEC simply weren’t prepared.”