"Damning" review of Forensic Science Queensland released

The Queensland Government, under Premier David Crisafulli, has released what it describes as a damning review of Forensic Science Queensland (FSQ), just weeks after the (suspended) director of the troubled forensic service provider, Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde, announced her resignation.

The review was launched by the Crisafulli government in its first week in office in November, with esteemed forensic biologist Dr Kirsty Wright — who exposed critical failings with the forensic testing of samples in thousands of cases by FSQ’s earlier iteration, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services — appointed to undertake an extensive assessment of testing services and reforms at FSQ. Former FBI expert Dr Bruce Budowle joined the review in February.

Wright’s report, released on Monday, reveals unreliable results and delays that have had major impacts on courts, police and victims awaiting justice. Significantly, the report has found:

• FSQ provided unreliable DNA results to police and the courts since early 2023, with systemic contamination issues uncovered.
• Delays in reporting DNA results have grown since early 2023, with courts relying on DNA evidence now “at a point of critical system failure”.
• There is a current median turnaround time for DNA results in major crimes of 412 days, which is 398 days slower than required by Queensland Police.
• The number of untested rape kits grew significantly from 75 in 2023 to 511 in September 2024, with testing taking more than 12 months to complete when they should be tested within two to eight weeks.
• Backlogs have prevented offenders from being arrested, put victims at risk and impacted the identification of human remains.
   

In light of the review, the government has announced a new Expert Team — which will be led by former NSW Commissioner Mick Fuller — to overhaul forensic operations in Queensland. The government had previously announced $6 million to bolster the capacity of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions so that backlogged cases could be resolved sooner, as well as a two-year, $50 million program to outsource the testing of thousands of DNA samples.

“What has occurred is nothing short of a betrayal of victims, but we are determined to rebuild confidence and restore integrity in the justice system,” Crisafulli said.

“We are bringing in some of the most experienced people in the country to clean up Labor’s mess, and putting victims back at the centre of our justice system because they deserve answers, and they deserve justice.”

Wright said she believed her report would be a watershed moment for forensic operations in the state.

“I have been determined to leave no stone unturned with my review, knowing that the failures that occurred under the former government have seen our criminal justice system compromised, trust in our forensic DNA services eroded, and too many victims denied justice,” she said.

“There is a significant task ahead to rebuild Queensland’s forensic DNA services and to transform the laboratory into the facility that the justice system needs and victims deserve, but I am very pleased to be joining the Expert Team that will guide these critical next steps.”

Budowle’s report, released on Tuesday, has meanwhile uncovered the following:

• A “troubling” amount of environmental contamination within the laboratory along with sample contamination that, once raised by the Review Team, led to a full pause in routine testing at FSQ.
• Calculation errors with kinship and paternity testing dating back several years, with the errors never disclosed by the former government.
• Evidence from police that FSQ’s significant delays and backlogs are having a considerable negative impact on active investigations and public safety.
• A workplace culture at FSQ that appeared to the Review Team to be “quite toxic” with management at all levels appearing to operate in a “reactive, crisis management mode”.
   

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said it was disgraceful that the former government had failed to address such serious concerns with the laboratory.

“This review hasn’t just been about processes — it has also been about people, because every test that is run in a laboratory can mean a victim is a step closer to getting the justice they deserve,” Frecklington said.

“Dr Budowle’s report shows Queenslanders just how incompetent Labor was when it came to managing DNA testing, and we are now dealing with the consequences of their years of mismanagement and neglect.

“We will continue to deliver more resources to the courts and the police frontline to ensure we restore safety where you live by fixing Labor’s DNA debacle.”

Budowle said he believed the DNA Review would help deliver the reform that forensic science so desperately needed in Queensland.

“There is significant road ahead to address quality issues, clear the backlog of cases, and improve workplace culture,” he said.

“It was vital for these issues to be brought to light, because forensic science is a critical part of any justice system that we must get right.

“I am confident that the recommendations my team has made can help rebuild FSQ into an organisation that Queenslanders can have confidence in, and a place where scientists want to work, and are proud to work.”

Fuller meanwhile said he was focused on reforming FSQ and was more than ready for the challenge ahead.

“I am under no illusions that there is significant road in front of us as we work through the very serious issues raised, but it is a great privilege to be entrusted with such a transformative task,” he said.

“In my role leading the Expert Team, I will be drawing upon 34 years of policing experience, where I saw firsthand how critical forensic science is to the work of police and prosecutors in keeping serious offenders behind bars and their victims safe.

“I look forward to working with the Crisafulli government to rebuild confidence and trust in forensic science services in this state and establishing a new era of best practice that helps make Queensland safer.”

The two reports can found at www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Tabled-Papers/.

Image credit: iStock.com/D-Keine