A controversy has emerged regarding the outsourcing of election staffing and political donations in Western Australia, prompting calls for investigations by the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC). The focus is on PersolKelly, a labor hire company headquartered in Singapore, which provided a temporary election workforce for the Western Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) under a contract spanning from 2024 to 2029. PersolKelly's parent company, Persol Group, is based in Japan, raising concerns about potential breaches of laws prohibiting foreign donations to political parties in the state.
The WAEC signed an $87 million contract with Programmed Skilled Workforce, a company owned by Programmed Maintenance Services, to supply election staff for upcoming polls. Notably, Programmed has made significant donations to various political parties, including $66,770 to the WA Labor Party, $13,250 to the Liberals, and $2,500 to the Nationals. Shane Love, leader of the WA Nationals, has referred these donations to the CCC for investigation.
Calls for Comprehensive Investigation
The CCC has been asked to scrutinize not only the donations but also the outsourcing of election staffing to PersolKelly. Shane Love has expressed concerns regarding potential breaches of laws on foreign donations, questioning the legality of the contributions made by companies with foreign ties. He stated:
“The law is not very effective if you have a completely-owned subsidiary based in Australia which can donate on your behalf.” – Shane Love
Additionally, Love has raised issues about the effectiveness of election staffing, citing incidents of under-resourced staff and insufficient ballot papers at polling stations. He remarked:
“We're seeing staff who have been under-resourced and under-trained and polling booths where people are being turned away because there simply wasn't enough ballot papers.” – Shane Love
WAEC Defends Their Decision
Despite these controversies, the WAEC has defended its decision to employ PersolKelly. A spokesperson for the commission emphasized that a rigorous and transparent tender process was conducted in 2023 to select the best provider for their staffing needs:
“WAEC underwent a competitive and transparent tender process in 2023 to identify the best solution for our staffing needs.” – WAEC spokesperson
The electoral commission has promised an investigation into the election proceedings but maintains confidence in their choice of contractor. Meanwhile, Premier Roger Cook's office has assured that an independent investigation will be set up at a suitable time but stressed that the immediate priority should be on counting votes.
Political Fallout and Further Concerns
Compounding the issue are calls for accountability from various quarters. Shane Love has requested the suspension of the head of the WA Electoral Commission amid widespread reports of polling booth failings. Among those affected was Upper House Labor MP Kate Doust, who encountered issues at her polling station in Victoria Park. She shared her frustration:
“I had to do an absentee vote in the Cannington pre-poll for Victoria Park when I was literally a wafer-thin wall away, and I just couldn’t believe that they couldn’t find me.” – Ms Doust
Ms. Doust further expressed skepticism about the leadership at the WAEC:
“At the end of the day, the Commissioner is responsible for everything that happens in the lead up and on the day of the election.” – Ms Doust
Ellie Whitaker, representing WA Labor, defended their donation practices, asserting compliance with electoral laws:
“WA Labor accepts donations in line with WA electoral laws, and do not accept donations from foreign donors.” – Ellie Whitaker
