Queensland authorities will retest thousands of DNA samples connected to serious crimes such as rapes and murders, after a “concerning” report into the state’s forensic crime lab.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Why is Queensland reviewing thousands of cases?
A commission of inquiry, headed by Walter Sofronoff, delivered an interim report this week showing the lab has routinely failed to test samples under a certain threshold since early 2018.
The extraordinary report revealed up to 10% of samples classified as having no or insufficient DNA could have produced partial or full DNA profiles if further tested.
The potential impacts for victims of crime are devastating. Sofronoff’s report said thousands of people may have given up on pursuing justice after “untrue” and “misleading” statements were provided to courts and prosecutors by scientists.
He said some of these statements – which will be urgently withdrawn and corrected – may have resulted in “the chance of conviction” being “forever lost”.
Why did the samples show no or insufficient DNA?
Queensland’s threshold for testing DNA changed in 2018 to require samples to contain double the number of cells required in New South Wales.
This change in policy may have prevented hundreds of sexual assault investigations from going ahead.
The government reversed that decision in June and the health minister, Yvette D’Ath, said she did not know what had prompted the change to a higher threshold.
“These are very serious issues. I want answers. The government wants answers. And I have no doubt that commissioner Sofronoff will leave no stone unturned to find out how this has occurred,” she said.
“I want to know why the methodology has changed. I want to know who authorised it. I want to understand the reasoning behind it.”
The state’s LNP opposition said the findings of the interim report were extremely shocking.
“Murderers, rapists, people who have committed sexual assault could potentially be walking free,” the Liberal National party spokesman Tim Nicholls said.
Has anyone faced consequences?
The damning findings of the interim report have already sent shock waves through the state, with two senior employees at the forensic lab immediately stood down on Wednesday morning.
The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, confirmed the director general of health, Shaun Drummond, stood down the senior staff members pending the outcome of the commission of inquiry.
Palaszczuk did not comment on why the staff were stood down or whether there would be further repercussions.
“This is perhaps one of the most concerning reports our state has seen and we need to get to the bottom of it,” she said.
What sparked the inquiry?
Shortcomings with the state’s forensic lab were first uncovered by The Australian’s podcast series about the investigation into the murder of Shandee Blackburn.
The young woman was stabbed more than 20 times on her way home from work in Mackay in 2013.
An inquiry into Blackburn’s death was announced after the podcast examined the alleged mishandling of DNA evidence in the case.
Palaszczuk also announced a commission of inquiry into the state’s forensic lab in June, following submissions to a women’s justice and safety taskforce and information put forward by Queensland police.
“It is clear to me that nothing short of a full, open and rigorous commission of inquiry can restore confidence in DNA testing in this state,” she said.
The inquiry is running alongside a previously announced review into the state-run lab.
What happens next?
The molecular biologist Prof Frank Gannon has been appointed to oversee the reissue of statements and retesting of DNA samples alongside police, the department of justice and the attorney general’s office.
Queensland police have also confirmed a taskforce had been established to “continue identifying and reviewing evidentiary samples for additional DNA testing with Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services”.
Public hearings for the inquiry are set to begin next Monday, with the final report due on 13 December.
Anyone who believes they were involved in a police investigation or a matter before a court that may have been impacted should contact Queensland police via the dedicated hotline (1300 993 191) or visit www.police.qld.gov.au.
