WA Labor MPs claim not to have read bombshell CCC report on use of electorate officers for party campaigning

The Premier, along with a string of Labor MPs, claimed they had not read a bombshell Corruption and Crime Commission report that formed the opinion that taxpayer-funded electorate officers were routinely used for political campaigning. Staff claimed they made up for party political work by staying back and working on weekends — an excuse Commissioner John McKechnie could not disprove. The CCC was ultimately unable to form the opinion that anyone had engaged in serious misconduct, but it said there was a “serious misconduct risk” without stricter timekeeping. “The lack of time recording made it impossible for the commission to identify what was and was not being done on the public purse,” the report stated. More than 24 hours after the CCC report was published on the commission’s website, several Labor MPs told The West Tuesday they had not read it and could not comment. Roger Cook also told media at a TAFE announcement in Clarkson that he had only received a “briefing” on the report. “It is not surprising that people who work for politicians are working to assist that politician to get reelected, but it’s important they do so with integrity and respect for the roles that they play as a full time public servant,” he said. “We will be looking at the CCC report and responding to it in due course.” Veteran Upper House MP Kate Doust claimed the report was not publicly available. “Well, when the report’s made public, finally, and members are actually able to read it, I’ll have a look at it,” she said. When told it had been published the day before, Ms Doust replied, “Not in the chamber; it hasn’t; it might have been made public to journalists.” Kingsley MP Jessica Stojkovski said she hadn’t read the report yet. “My electorate staff and I are just focused on being a real, genuine, hard-working team,” she said. Upper House MP Dan Caddy said it was too early for him to comment. “We all need to have a read through that; it only came down yesterday,” Mr Caddy said. “I’m not going to comment; I’m going to wait until I’ve had a chance to read it.” Bassendean MP Dave Kelly said the report “only came out yesterday”. “We’re going to have a read of the report, and I’ll get back to you,” he said. Nedlands MP Dr Katrina Stratton, who is running for the upper house in the 2025 State election, said she had never asked her electorate officers to campaign or do party political work. “We’re just all focused on delivering for the community,” Dr Stratton said. Outgoing MLC Kyle McGinn denied there was any misconduct risk in his office. Kimberley MP Divina D’Anna said she had never pressured staff to do political work and that they “just keep engaging” with the community. Commerce Minister Sue Ellery, Scarborough MP Stuart Aubrey, Churchlands MP Christine Tonkin, Bicton MP Lisa O’Malley, Cockburn MP David Scaife, Darling Range MP Hugh Jones and Hillarys MP Caitlin Collins declined to comment as they headed into parliament. Mr McKechnie told the media that the use of electorate officers for political campaigning was an “unfairness in our democratic system.” “If you have one candidate who happens to be a member, who has the support of electorate officers, and another candidate seeking to gain that seat who doesn’t have that support, the playing field’s uneven, and it shouldn’t be,” he said after handing down the report. “I suspect it’s been going on for years, but it’s wrong. This is State money, and it should be used for State purposes and not for party political purposes.”