A government review into DNA testing at a state-run forensics laboratory has been labelled "manifestly inadequate" by a former employee after Queensland police revealed they were re-examining cases dating back to the start of 2018.
Key points:
- Queensland Health's internal review into the lab's testing has been described as "manifestly inadequate"
- Forensic biologist Dr Kirsty Wright says further testing on criminal cases that didn't have enough DNA evidence could lead to crimes being solved
- When asked about an independent inquiry, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said "nothing is off the table"
Forensic biologist Dr Kirsty Wright said there were potentially thousands of cases in question going back 10 years after anomalies were found in DNA results from the Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services lab (QHFSS).
"The Queensland police review demonstrates without a doubt that the lab isn't working efficiently and they're giving incorrect advice to the police which may be preventing them from identifying offenders of very serious crimes," she said.
The issue came to light after Queensland police requested additional testing on samples that QHFSS had reported as "insufficient DNA for further processing".
Further tests revealed a success rate of 30 per cent on DNA samples in relation to "all crime classes" and a 66 per cent success rate for DNA detection for sex offences.
"I think it's really telling that the police are doing that [conducting a review into cases back to 2018]," Dr Wright said.
"I congratulate them for investigating these cases because they obviously believe there are genuine issues with the lab.
"I've got no doubt the police will find more cases where they can actually get information."
Calls for independent inquiry into lab failures
She said the Queensland government's review was "manifestly inadequate" as the terms of reference were far too narrow.
"What is lacking from the Queensland Health internal review is examining outputs of the laboratory," she said.
Ms Wright called for an independent inquiry into the issue.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has taken the issue seriously and had commissioned an independent review into Queensland Health's forensic DNA analysis service.
"The Health Minister has tabled those terms of reference in the Parliament from memory," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"We need to get those results first.
"But let me say, nothing is off the table.
"There are experts that are being commissioned to look at that, and that is step one but that's not to say that there's not going to be a further inquiry after that."
Ms D'Ath was not available for comment when approached by the ABC.
However, a Queensland Health spokesperson said an independent review of the Forensic DNA Analysis Unit had been announced which would "include DNA testing thresholds and the appropriateness of these thresholds".
Details of the review were announced in May and it will examine the lab's policies, procedures, processes and standards against best practice.
The lab provides a range of services to the Queensland Police Service, including testing and analysis of biological samples to generate a DNA profile.
An independent assessor has not yet been announced.
'Rape victims may have been denied justice'
Queensland police said their review of cases was ongoing and they were "working with our external stakeholders to resolve these issues."
Women's Legal Service Queensland law reform and education practice director Julie Sarkozi said it was very concerning that for years DNA samples in sexual assault case potentially haven't been able to be used.
"The forensic medical examination is quiet intrusive, and often at a time when people are very, very hurt and traumatised," she said.
"I'm optimistic that the outcomes of the review and in fact the outcomes of the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce will lend a level of accountability and transparency to a process up until now that has been quite clandestine, by the sounds of it.
"I think that more can be done."
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the LNP would like to see a review of the lab included in the Commission of Inquiry currently being held into the Queensland Police Service responses to domestic violence.
That review was announced by the state government in May in response to recommendations from the Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce.
"We are talking about a situation where cases have had to be reopened, where rape victims may have been denied justice," Mr Crisafulli said.
"We have been repeatedly talking about the failures of the centre.
"We waited over 40 days for the terms of reference and they are as weak as water, and it's been over two months and we don't even know who is going to do the review."
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2022-06-02 08:02:19Z
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