Victims of serious crimes like rape and murder are waiting an extraordinary 398 days for testing compared to five to 10 days in other states, according to a new report into Queensland’s scandal-plagued DNA testing lab.
The report (pdf), led by forensic biologist-turned-whistleblower Kirsty Wright, makes damning findings of routine contamination, unreliable results, and testing delays, critically impacting courts, police, and victims awaiting justice.
“The median time for the lab to process major crime cases, sexual assaults, rapes, murders is about 420 days,” Wright said on Aug. 4.
“Victims are waiting over a year for the rape kits to be tested. In other jurisdictions, that’s taking five to 10 days, so you can see the chasm in the service that we need to rebuild.”
Over 13,000 samples need to be retested—a process expected to take two years—while cases in the magistrates’ court that rely on DNA evidence are already facing delays of up to three years, the report stated.
Wright, who exposed alleged testing failures in the 2013 murder investigation of Mackay woman Shandee Blackburn, leading to two commissions of inquiry into the lab, was appointed by the Liberal-National state government to review the testing facility.
Wright’s findings, released in late 2022, led to calls for immediate reforms to improve forensic practices and restore public confidence in the justice system. Forensic Science Queensland (FSQ), the state’s main forensic lab, had faced scrutiny for unreliable results in high-profile cases.
Some of the latest report’s key findings include:
- The current median turnaround time for DNA results in major crimes is 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 over 12 months to complete when they should be tested within two to eight weeks.
- Delays in reporting DNA results have grown since early 2023, with courts relying on DNA evidence now “at a point of critical system failure” due to the former Labor government’s inadequate action.
Harrowing Chapter: Premier
The report exposed a harrowing chapter in Queensland’s justice system, said Queensland Premier David Crisafulli.
“We haven’t seen anything like this certainly in Australia, but right across the globe, this is the kind of failings that no one ever thought would happen in a democracy like ours,” he said.
“We launched this review because Queenslanders deserve the truth and victims of crime deserve justice.
“This report shows 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.”
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Deb Frecklington said it was unacceptable that victims of crime were left at risk while waiting for justice.
“Dr Wright’s findings aren’t just concerning—they’re chilling—and I know this report will be very difficult reading for victims,” Frecklington said.
“I want Queenslanders to know we will fix the mess we have inherited so confidence in our DNA testing services can be restored.”
New Team to Make Changes
Former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has been appointed to lead a new expert team to overhaul forensic operations in Queensland.
Fuller said he was focused on reforming FSQ.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
