WA Electoral Commission response to the Special Inquiry Report into the Planning and delivery of the 2025 WA State Election

The WA Electoral Commission (WAEC) acknowledges the release of the Special Inquiry report conducted into the planning and delivery of the 2025 WA State election, led by the Honourable Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC.

The Commission welcomes the findings and recommendations and is currently undertaking a thorough review of the report. Given the significance of the issues raised, it is essential that the details are carefully considered before a formal response is provided.

Under new leadership, the WA Electoral Commission is undergoing significant transformation. Key appointments, including Dennis O’Reilly as Acting Electoral Commissioner, Rebecca Hamilton as Acting Deputy Commissioner, and Margaret Hardwick as Chief Operations Officer, have strengthened leadership and operations. The addition of a Corporate Governance Manager and Contracts Manager will also improve procurement and supplier management. A new professional development program is being rolled out to build internal capability and align staff with strategic goals and ongoing organisational design efforts will aim to streamline processes and enhance efficiency in election delivery.

These reforms reflect our commitment to building a more capable organisation that will serve the Western Australian community with integrity and professionalism.

“We sincerely thank Mr McCusker for his thorough and independent review into the 2025 State Election,”  said Acting Electoral Commissioner Dennis O’Reilly. “His work provides valuable insight into the challenges we faced and offers a clear path forward for reform.”

“While we have already made meaningful improvements to our workforce planning and service delivery, we recognise there is still important work to be done. Our focus remains on building a stronger, more capable organisation and one that delivers elections with integrity, transparency, and efficiency."

“We understand the importance of public trust in the electoral process. The people of Western Australia deserve confidence in how their elections are conducted, and we are determined to earn and uphold that trust through meaningful change.”

Acting Electoral Commissioner Dennis O’Reilly will address the media in the coming days, following a full review of the report’s findings.