Western Australia’s opposition leader Shane Love has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the state’s 2025 election following a decision by the Western Australian Electoral Commission to outsource core election functions to labour hire company PersolKelly.

Love said widespread issues were reported during the state’s election held on 8 March, including staffing and ballot paper shortages and allegations that PersolKelly staff incorrectly denied voters their right to vote without identification, despite ID not being required under Western Australia law.

“Outsourcing the administration of our state election to an untested external contractor is unprecedented and deeply concerning,” Love said in a press release. “Elections should be conducted by an independent, publicly funded electoral commission, not a private recruitment agency.”

PersolKelly responded to the information in a statement to SIA.

“PersolKelly Australia was appointed by the WA Election Commission in December 2023 as a supplier to assist with the recruitment and deployment of staff for the 2025 State Election,” the company stated. “To date, PersolKelly has recruited and deployed approximately 7,000 personnel and was responsible for onboarding successful candidates as part of the project.”

The company said recruitment companies have been appointed as suppliers to supply staff for previous state and federal elections in a similar way.

“PersolKelly was not involved in any other aspect of the WA election,” the company said. “On polling day, 100% of the 682 polling locations across the State were staffed and operational.”

The company is still deploying and rostering workers to complete the project and its focus remains on partnering with the WAEC to complete the count.

According to a report by national broadcaster ABC, the Western Australian Electoral Commission has promised to launch an investigation into the election, which Premier Roger Cook’s Labor party won for a third successive term. However, it also defended its decision to use PersolKelly.

“The WAEC underwent a competitive and transparent tender process in 2023 to identify the best solution for our staffing needs,” a spokesperson told the ABC.