Media Release | 3 July 2025
Shane Love MLA
Leader of the Nationals WA
Shadow Minister for Electoral Affairs
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA says Budget Estimates have failed to shed light on the Cook Labor Government’s $86 million deal with staffing giant Persol Kelly, exposing a disgraceful lack of transparency, oversight, and basic due diligence in the running of the 2025 State Election.
“The lack of any concrete answers during Budget Estimates has only reinforced the urgent need for the Premier to immediately release the Final Report of the Special Inquiry into the 2025 State Election,” Mr Love said.
“Despite an hour of questioning the Minister for Electoral Affairs, we are still no closer to knowing who authorised this $86 million contract or how it was allowed to proceed in the shadows.”
“$20 million has been accounted for in this Budget, buried in a general ‘cost of services’ line item, but where is the rest? Why wasn’t this massive contract disclosed in previous Budgets or the WA Electoral Commission’s annual report?”
Estimates hearings revealed a series of failures:
• The Minister could not identify if a contract management plan was in place, as required for a contract of this size by procurement rules.
• No risk assessment was undertaken before outsourcing election staffing to a foreign-owned company.
• The Minister repeatedly insisted Persol Kelly is an Australian company, despite it being owned by Japanese multinational Persol Holdings.
• $4 million in top-up bonuses was paid to Returning Officers, were fully funded by the WAEC, with no contribution from Persol Kelly.
• The Department of Finance signed off on the contract, but the Minister for Electoral Affairs could not confirm whether any previous Ministers were informed.
• The Electoral Commissioner will remain on paid leave until 2025.
“The Acting Commissioner also confirmed the contract with Persol Kelly would be reviewed following the October local government elections but could not say whether the company would be retained, or how much taxpayers would be liable for if the contract is terminated.”
Mr Love said Western Australians have every right to be furious.
“This was a blatant failure of procurement oversight. The Cook Labor Government lost control of the most basic function of government, running a fair and secure election.”
“The Premier must not bury, delay or water down the Inquiry’s findings.”
ENDS
