- Highly skilled and experienced senior public servant appointed Acting Electoral Commissioner
- Appointment vital for delivery of important services for October 2025 local government elections
- Acting Commissioner to implement any actions resulting from Special Inquiry into 2025 State Election
Senior public servant Dennis O'Reilly has been appointed to lead the Western Australian Electoral Commission in an acting capacity.
With more than 30 years public sector experience and expertise in service delivery, business transformation, stakeholder relations and governance, Mr O'Reilly will continue the important work of the WA Electoral Commission.
Mr O'Reilly is currently Deputy Director General Strategy and Performance at the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.
He previously spent 10 years in senior roles at the Department of Transport including as Executive Director Regional Services.
As acting Commissioner, he will oversee services for local government elections in October this year and be responsible for implementing any recommendations from the Special Inquiry into the Planning and Delivery of the 2025 WA State Election.
Mr O'Reilly will act in the role while incumbent Electoral Commissioner Robert Kennedy is on personal leave.
As stated by Electoral Affairs Minister David Michael:
"I am very pleased to have someone of Mr O'Reilly's calibre take on this vitally important role for Western Australians.
"October's local government elections are important for communities across our State and Mr O'Reilly will be working hard with his team to ensure they run smoothly.
"I thank Deputy Commissioner Courtney Baron for acting as Commissioner in recent weeks.
"With the report on the State Election Special Inquiry due on 30 June, there will also be work to do to ensure the difficulties experienced in the March election are not repeated, and Mr O'Reilly will lead this after the government has considered the report."
