The WA Electoral Commission acknowledges the concerns raised in the Special Inquiry regarding outsourcing recruitment of Temporary Election Workers. The WA Electoral Commission will review the optimal service delivery and workforce model ahead of the 2029 State General Election, giving consideration to effective sourcing models, best practice nationally and the importance of upholding the integrity of electoral processes.
Read the Government response to these recommendations.
The decision to “completely outsource” recruitment of Temporary Election Workers to an independent recruitment agency should be reconsidered by the WA Electoral Commission, having regard to:
(1) the cost compared to cost of “in house” recruitment, using Returning Officers to recruit;
(2) the specialised nature of the temporary work, related solely to elections; and
(3) public perception, and consider whether the WA Electoral Commission should employ all Temporary Election Workers directly for General Elections and should only engage recruitment agencies to recruit Temporary Election Workers for Early Polling until it is sufficiently funded to recruit Temporary Election Workers for Early Polling itself.