WA election 2025: Independent Kate Hulett flags taking legal action over ‘concerning’ WAEC polling

Climate 200-funded independent Kate Hulett — who has backed illegal environmentalist protests — has threatened taking legal action against the WA Electoral Commission, alleging “numerous reports of irregularities” at polling booths. Labor minister Simone McGurk was at high-risk of losing her seat of Fremantle when preferences were first estimated, although it is understood the flow of Green votes to her opponent was not as strong as first predicted. Ms Hulett had 28.8 per cent of the primary vote and an estimated 50.6 per cent of the two-candidate preferred after Labor’s primary tally plummeted more than 22 per cent. “Today, my campaign observed concerning conduct in the official WAEC vote counting process in Fremantle, and over the past 24 hours we have received numerous reports of irregularities at polling booths in the Fremantle electorate,” Ms Hulett said in a statement on Sunday. “In the interests of democracy, integrity and full transparency, we have communicated these concerns to the WAEC and are receiving legal advice in relation to ongoing concerns about the conduct of this election.” WAEC commissioner Robert Kennedy said there would be an investigation into issues at booths across the State. Asked whether counting had resumed for the seat of Fremantle with Labor scrutineers but no scrutineers for Ms Hulett, Mr Kennedy said all candidates were notified about the count restarting. Ms McGurk — who serves as Labor’s training, water and industrial relations minister and has held the seat since 2013 — on Sunday said the result was “too close to call”. “No matter what the results bring it’s an absolute privilege to serve this wonderful community,” she said. In the morning, the independent had projected confidence. “It will be counting for a few more days, but I think that we’re pretty close to the win,” Ms Hulett said. The local artist and owner of shop Kate and Abel, was recruited by the Voices for Freo campaign in January. Simon Holmes a Court’s Climate 200 — which has backed independents across the country including Federal Curtin MP Kate Chaney — tipped in $50,000 to her campaign. Her team also confirmed they had accumulated a six-figure “war chest” heading into the election. Ms Hulett’s campaign adviser, activist Jesse Noakes, was among a group arrested when police laid in waiting as he and another protester approached Woodside boss Meg O’Neill’s house armed with four litres of paint and a bike lock. Mr Noakes — a part of Disrupt Burrup Hub which is protesting Woodside’s proposed extension of the life of its North West Shelf gas plant to 2070 — was later fined for his attempted trespass and attempted unlawful damage. Ms Hulett has denied being a member of Disrupt Burrup, but has been pictured wearing their shirts. She condoned the illegal protest, adding; “I think it’s really important to allow people to protest without hurting anyone in order to bring these matters to light”. The morning after the election, and with backdrop of supporters outside the Spare Parts theatre, Ms Hulett agreed Labor’s support for the Woodside project had helped. “It’s a crazy thing to do,” she said. “We don’t want that. We don’t have a plan to get off gas.” And she described WA Labor’s intervention that helped thwart a deal to pass Nature Positive legislation as “an embarrassment”. “We’re the only State in Australia with emissions that are rising and we’re the only State that still allows no-grounds evictions, and we’re not going to stand for that for longer,” she said. Ms Hulett said she was feeling “many emotions”. “From empty-headed, to people who have patted me on the shoulder and given me a thumbs up and told me ‘I haven’t voted for 50 years, but I’ve come out to vote for you’,” she said. “I’m only doing this for them. I’m not doing this for me, but I’m fuelled by this incredible passion and enthusiasm.” Four years ago, the minister was comfortably reelected on a 15.7 per cent margin against the Greens. The vote for the Liberals — who preferenced Labor over the independent — barely shifted. Premier Roger Cook, while celebrating his Government’s thumping win, told media in Wellard it was “still early days in terms of the count”. Mr Cook admitted environmental concerns had cost Labor in Fremantle, but highlighted his Government’s record including its ban on logging native forests and plan to phase out coal.