Acting WA Electoral Commissioner appointed to
permanent roleRebecca Hamilton appointed WA Deputy Electoral
CommissionerPair to continue implementing recommendations from
the report of the Special Inquiry into the Planning and Delivery of the 2025 WA
State Election

Electoral Affairs
Minister David Michael today announced the appointment of Dennis O’Reilly as WA
Electoral Commissioner.

Mr O’Reilly will assume
the role from 31 January, having been acting in the position since May.

The appointment follows
the resignation of Robert Kennedy earlier this month.

Mr O’Reilly joined the Western Australian Electoral
Commission having served 30 years in the public sector, demonstrating expertise
in service delivery, business transformation, stakeholder relations, and
governance.

His experience included serving as Deputy
Director General Strategy and Performance at the Department of Water and
Environmental Regulation.

Mr Michael also announced
today the appointment of Rebecca Hamilton as WA Deputy Electoral Commissioner.

Ms Hamilton will assume
the role from 1 January, having been acting in the role since July.

Her appointment follows
the resignation of Courtney Barron earlier this year.

Ms Hamilton has worked in
senior public service roles for more than 20 years, including positions with the
Department of Treasury and Finance, Department of Health, Department of
Corrective Services, and most recently the Road Safety Commission.  

Both Mr O’Reilly and Ms
Hamilton have been appointed on five-year contracts for their respective roles.

The pair will continue
implementing recommendations from the report of the Special Inquiry into the
Planning and Delivery of the 2025 WA State Election.

Comments attributed to Electoral Affairs Minister David Michael:

“I congratulate Dennis
and Rebecca on their appointments and look forward to continuing to work with
them.

“Both
have performed admirably in their respective acting roles and these permanent
appointments will enable them to continue the important work of implementing
recommendations from the report of the Special Inquiry into the Planning and
Delivery of the 2025 WA State Election.

“I am confident they will
bring consistency and stability to the WA Electoral Commission, which has
undergone a challenging period of uncertainty since the March WA State
Election.

“I’d also like to again
thank Robert Kennedy for his service to the WA Electoral Commission as
Commissioner since 2020.

“I’d also like to thank
Courtney Barron for her service as Deputy Electoral Commissioner since 2021 and
wish her all the best in her future career.”