Western Australia's top election official, Robert Kennedy, has resigned nine months after the state's March 2025 election, which was marred by long wait times and polling places running out of ballot papers. The ABC reported that concerns had been raised before the election about the unprecedented outsourcing of much of the commission's workforce, but these were not adequately addressed.
As problems emerged, Kennedy took leave until the end of the year. The government has now confirmed he offered his resignation to the governor. An independent inquiry found the issues largely stemmed from the government denying Kennedy's request for more funding, leading his director of election operations to cut staffing to stay within budget. The government claimed it told Kennedy he could request additional funds after the election, but he never did.
The West Australian newspaper reported that the state government told Kennedy to resign or be removed by a parliamentary vote. Due to the commissioner's independence, removal would have required resignation or rarely used powers involving the governor. Acting Electoral Commissioner Dennis O'Reilly, appointed to improve the commission and implement inquiry recommendations, is expected to continue until a successor is named.
Nationals leader and Shadow Electoral Affairs Minister Shane Love expressed relief at Kennedy's resignation, saying it allows the commission to get leadership sorted. He noted the government's role in funding issues but stopped short of calling Kennedy a scapegoat. Love stressed the need for the government to accept its mistake and ensure the commission is not budget-constrained in future elections. He called for a wide search for a substantive commissioner.
Electoral Affairs Minister David Michael thanked Kennedy for his service and said a new commissioner and deputy commissioner would be appointed after consultation with other parliamentary parties.
