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ABC News
5 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
What we know about WA's problem-plagued state election, and what's to come
Six months before a state election which went so wrong it triggered a special inquiry to find answers, the man in charge gave a warning. "Electoral bodies find they only attract attention when things go wrong," Robert Kennedy told a parliamentary committee. "As long as everything is sailing along fine, no one is particularly interested in any issues you might be identifying." Just as he had predicted, no one paid much attention at the time. Few noticed Electoral Commissioner Kennedy cautioning there were "additional cost pressures and service improvements that … remain unfunded". But, he said: "If we can confirm our funding … I expect that we will be able to meet our goal and our promise of a better electoral experience in 2025." As the conduct of election showed — with reports of long wait times at polling booths, inexperienced staff and shortages of staff and ballot papers — that isn't what happened. The ABC revealed on Tuesday the decision to outsource recruitment of the temporary election workforce was largely motivated by two factors. First, a sense the running of the 2021 election had damaged the commission's reputation. Few involved in that poll — which Mark McGowan won in a post-COVID landslide — seemed to share the commission's concerns. "There were a few issues that I was aware of here and there, but nothing like the collapse that we saw in 2025," was shadow electoral affairs spokesperson Shane Love's recollection. "I think we got off lightly because of the result," Commissioner Kennedy had told parliament, referring to Labor's huge win. Another issue, he said, was "a lack of resources and internal procedures and processes to properly support our large temporary workforce". That lack of resources was also noted in the commission's decision to outsource recruitment. But the $86 million outsourcing contract was not mentioned at the committee hearing, despite being signed nearly a year prior. Instead, the commissioner warned multiple times funding the election was the biggest issue on his mind at that point, although he acknowledged some increased funding provided "so far". Asked this week if the government had adequately resourced the commission, Premier Roger Cook was clear. "There is nothing we do which would give the Electoral Commission any cause for concern in relation to their finances," he said on Tuesday. "Obviously, we want to know how the money is spent, but that's a conversation which predominantly takes place between treasury themselves and the WA Electoral Commission. "And as has been the custom after every election, when the Electoral Commission has required extra resources, they've been topped up." Budget papers show while the 2017 election came in pretty much on budget, the commission needed its total election year budget increased by 24 per cent (or about $8 million) compared to earlier plans. Last month's budget included a 55 per cent increase — more than $20 million — on earlier predictions. That took the commission's budget to around $57.5 million, with between $19 or $20 million paid under the contract. But a state government spokesperson did not answer questions about whether that money included what the commissioner was concerned about getting in late 2024. "The resourcing of the 2025 state election was a matter included in the terms of reference for the Special Inquiry into the Planning and Delivery of the 2025 WA State General Election," they said in a statement. "The inquirer's report will be tabled in parliament next month." The electoral commissioner's comments to the committee — and particularly his warning that few paid attention to issues raised when things were going fine — could suggest he did feel some level of concern around finances. Understanding whether that was the case will be a critical question for the special inquiry to answer, if it is to have even the chance of avoiding a similarly problematic election in the future. Of course, that's not to say other, more direct changes, won't help. "A new acting commissioner and acting deputy commissioner have been appointed, both of whom are already reviewing the current practices, processes and culture of the WA Electoral Commission," was the assurance provided by Electoral Affairs Minister David Michael during the week. "The government will formally respond to recommendations within the special inquiry report when it is tabled in parliament and publicly released." That is not expected to be until mid-August at the earliest when parliament next sits. Later in the year, after local government elections have been run in October, the acting commissioner Dennis O'Reilly has also indicated the recruitment contract could be reconsidered. "As good contract managers, we will be sitting down to see what is working and what is not. Part of that process will also involve looking at what the future looks like with PERSOLKELLY," he told parliament. "I would not want to pre-empt anything, but as a good contract manager, I think it is important to sit down and have those discussions." Whatever changes eventuate, they are unlikely to have much of an impact on the culture of the commission, which could be an even more important factor. Any issues within the organisation clearly must be addressed before the next state election in 2029. But that focus cannot allow the state government to be let of the hook if there is found to be any undue external pressure on the commission. Nobody expects any part of government to be given a blank cheque. But it would be hard to justify fiscal restraint, for one of the agencies responsible for such a fundamental part of democracy to be deprived of a fraction of the state's $2.4 billion surplus last year.
West Australian
22-06-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Opposition alliance parties only going to get closer says Zempilas following all or nothing Love comments
Basil Zempilas has denied the Opposition Alliance is close to splitting up despite comments by his Nationals counterpart Shane Love that the junior partner would break the agreement if it was not formalised. Speaking to media on Sunday, Mr Zempilas said he was surprised to see Mr Love's comments and thought the two parties were working well together. 'I'm not disappointed, but I was surprised only because the sense that perhaps was portrayed does not match the reality,' he said. 'The absolute sense is that from those inside both teams and those who have been observing the early weeks of this new parliament, we are working very well together as a cohesive, high-functioning, united Opposition Alliance.' The comments come after The Sunday Times reported comments from Mr Love saying the two parties should go it alone if a formal Coalition agreement could not be met. 'To be anything in the middle (of being fully separate or in a formal Coalition) has really not proven successful,' Mr Love said. 'For me, we either have an agreement where we are definitely working together, or we be separate.' The traditional Coalition partners have had a tense relationship in recent times. In late 2024, leading up to March's State election, the alliance was on the brink after Mr Love pledged not to form a Coalition government with the Liberals unless they agreed to rewrite Labor's firearm law reform. Mr Zempilas said he believed the two parties were stronger together but that a formal Coalition agreement took time to develop. 'I've got a very good vantage point, I'm well aware of how well we're working together, I'm very aware of how good the relationship between Shane Love as leader of the Nationals and my own relationship as leader of the Liberal Party is,' he said. 'We're working very, very well together. My sense is that we are nowhere near a walking away, in fact if anything, we are only going to get stronger and come closer together.' Mr Love clarified his comments on Sunday in a statement, saying if the parties were to win the 2029 State Election, they needed to do it together. 'The current Opposition alliance is functioning well, our parliamentary relationship is focused, co-operative, and firmly united in holding the Cook Labor Government to account,' he said. 'The Nationals WA recognise the pressing need for a longer-term Opposition agreement that provides clarity, stability, and strategic direction beyond the current short-term Alliance. 'While we await the Liberal Party's return to the negotiating table, the Opposition parliamentary teams will continue to work together effectively.' Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti slammed the disunity of the opposition. 'The Nationals and Liberal Party have been a mess for many, many years so this is of no surprise,' she said. 'My analysis is it's like watching an episode of The Big Brother house and they keep going into the diary room to complain about each other.'
West Australian
21-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Nationals and Liberals team up to try and revoke firearm act reform
Liberal and National MPs in State Parliament are set to fail in their bid to dump Labor's new firearm rules, as the Government accused the Opposition of risking community safety. The disallowance motion against the Government's tough gun laws, moved by Nationals leader Shane Love on Wednesday, resulted in the Liberals joining calls for the regulations to be rewritten. Mr Love pledged at the election to roll back the regulations made in in 2024's Firearm Act, which limits the number of guns owners can have. It came after the issue led to tensions between the Nationals and Liberals when Mr Love said he would not form government with the Liberals if they did not support disallowing the firearm reforms. 'People in regional Western Australia, especially, have a deep understanding of the need for firearms in their community,' he said on Wednesday. 'Not only for the control of pest species on their land but also as one of their recreational pursuits and a way of ensuring that the community's health, their mental health, is taken care of because for many people that activity of firearm use is their recreation. 'Taking that away from them is making people feel really under threat and has been very, very poorly executed by this Government and is fundamentally politically based, not based on the needs of public safety.' Premier Roger Cook warned that the move could risk community safety. 'WA is safer today because of our gun law reforms, Western Australians live in a safer community because of our gun law reforms, so it's very disturbing to see that the Nationals are going forward with their disallowance motion, which will put these laws into disarray,' he said. 'That's incredibly concerning, it's a choice about whether you own a gun but it's a right to know that you are safe living in Western Australia and that's what these gun laws are in there to do.' Mr Love refuted the suggestion. 'I'd say that's bumpkin, we're not trying to jeopardise community safety but what we're not about is imposing on the community a whole range of unworkable regulations and laws which are actually unjustifiably making people feel that they've been victimised by their own,' he said. Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas conceded that Labor's commanding majority meant the motion was doomed to fail. 'We all know the numbers in this place, this is not going to pass but this is an opportunity for the opposition parties to make the point on behalf of police and doctors that large elements of these regulations are unworkable,' he said. 'What I'm doing is exactly what I just said, we're using the parliamentary procedures available to us to support police and to support doctors who have said large elements of these regulations are unworkable. 'We always said, and everybody knows this, we always said this legislation did not get the proper scrutiny. It was rushed through.'
West Australian
19-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Nationals leader Shane Love set to move to disallow latest firearm regulations following doctors' concerns
Nationals WA leader Shane Love is set to move a motion when Parliament returns this week calling for the latest updates to the firearm regulations to be disallowed. It comes after doctors revealed they were refusing to conduct the necessary health assessments for people to get a firearm licence. The fresh laws, introduced late last year, include restrictions on the types of firearms, while owners must be approved by a medical professional in order to obtain a firearm licence. Mr Love has been consistent in his stance of saying the laws were rushed through and on Wednesday will move the regulations be disallowed. 'I have promised, in public forums across the State, to contest these regulations at the first available sitting day,' he said. 'I will now fulfil that commitment to the thousands of law-abiding firearms owners whose livelihoods and recreational options have been thrown into disarray.' Mr Love pointed to the similarities with the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, saying it caused 'unnecessary and avoidable distress' in regional WA. Last week, it was revealed doctors feared blood would be on their hands in the event of a shooting if they signed off on paperwork granting a person a firearm licence. The State Government said doctors were protected in these events, but medical professionals still had their reservations. It means many farmers have been unable to apply for licences critical for their work, while recreational shooters were more exposed with doctors allegedly reluctant to sign off on tests for people who do not require a firearm professionally. Mr Love said regional GPs were 'already under resourced and under pressure'. 'This legislation puts them in an untenable position where they will be forced to make a judgement call on the future behaviour of people who reside in their communities,' he said.
