PersolKelly
4. Mr Shane Love to the Premier:
I would like to congratulate all those members who have been elected for the first time—the 21 new members in this place—and also those who have returned. I also add my condolences to the family of Arthur Leggett OAM and acknowledge his passing this month, just before Anzac Day, which is, I think, very evocative.
Premier, I refer to the conduct of the 2025 state election, with the writs being returned only six days before Parliament's opening today.
(1) Can the Premier confirm for the house that neither he nor his former Minister for Electoral Affairs, the former Minister for Finance or the Treasurer were aware of the awarding of an $86 million contract to PersolKelly for its involvement in the 2025 state election?
(2) How is it that $86 million of taxpayers' dollars can be doled out with no executive approval or even awareness?
Mr Roger Cook replied:
Mr Speaker, firstly, to the first point the member makes, there was no overly long delay in the returning of the writs. In 2008, the writs were returned in 58 days; in 2013, it was 59; in 2017, it was 79; and in 2021, it was 73 days. They were returned in 55 days in the conduct of the 2025 election. The member is trying to create a sense in the community and in this place that somehow the returning of the writs were delayed. They were not.
I think it is important that we all take the opportunity, particularly when we see what is going on around the world, to provide confidence to the people of Western Australia that their democracy is in safe hands. That is why I have, in consultation with all major political parties in Western Australia, recently initiated under the Public Sector Management Act a special inquiry that will be headed by Hon Malcolm McCusker KC, former governor of this state, esteemed lawyer and man of great respect in the community, to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of the election. We have all heard the stories of people who were inconvenienced and frustrated by the electoral process. Part and parcel of that was some public commentary particularly on the outsourcing of elements of the staffing in relation to the conduct of the election. I will put on the record that it is not unusual at all for personnel companies or consultancies to be engaged to provide staff for the election process. That happens at the state level and that always happens at the national level. But we do not deny there are concerns about the way that some of the polling booths were operated and in relation to a range of anecdotes that people have heard both personally and at large. I very much look forward to the electoral inquiry—
Mr Peter Rundle interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Roe.
Mr Roger Cook: I think we should all be very careful of governments that seek to interfere in the democratic process. There is a reason that we have the WA Electoral Commission and a reason we have a commissioner who runs it with the appropriate level of independence—not from oversight; it is not independence from oversight but independence from interference from governments of the day. We continue to have confidence in the work that the WA Electoral Commission does. It is very difficult work. Clearly, on this occasion, there are opportunities for us to make an inquiry into the conduct of the election.
5. Mr Shane Love to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given that response, I have to ask whether the Premier is satisfied that the WA Electoral Commission appears to have awarded an $86 million contract without there being any oversight from his government?
Point of order
Dr Tony Buti: Standing order 77 is quite clear that the member should not be seeking opinion. Subclause (2) states:
Questions should not be repetitive, ask for an expression of opinion or seek legal interpretation or opinion.
The Speaker: Thank you. I will not be upholding that point of order.
Questions without notice resumed
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members, the Premier has the call.
Mr Roger Cook replied:
Can I commend the Attorney General on that particular point of order; I thought it was quite well executed!
As I said in my remarks, there will be an inquiry in relation to the conduct of the election. The inquiry was established under the Public Sector Management Act, and all major political parties were consulted in the establishment of that inquiry.
