A report into practices at Queensland’s beleaguered state-run forensics lab is set to be released today.
The second commission of inquiry into the lab, headed by retired Federal Court judge Annabelle Bennett, examined what’s known as Project 13 – a 2008 report by seven scientists that recommended the use of an automated DNA testing system, rather than extracting it manually.
This was despite the automated method yielding up to 92 per cent less DNA than the manual technique.
Queensland’s health minister and attorney-general will provide an update about a second inquiry into the state’s forensic DNA lab shortly.
Thousands of serious criminal and sexual assault cases dating back almost 15 years have been reviewed as a result.
The six-week inquiry was launched in October by Health Minister Shannon Fentiman following lobbying from forensic scientist Dr Kirsty Wright, the mother of murdered Mackay woman Shandee Blackburn and the state Opposition.
Dr Wright told the inquiry lab practices were “appalling and reckless”.
A 2022 inquiry found “serious” failures at the lab, caused by a series of factors including “mismanagement”, cultural problems and “dishonesty by senior managers”.
Former judge Walter Sofronoff’s 506-page report recommended a retrospective review of “thousands” of Queensland crimes, including murder and sexual assault cases, dating back to January 2008.
He was particularly damning of the lab’s managing scientist Cathie Allen, accusing her of lying and of significant failures in scientific oversight spanning years.
Mr Sofronoff made 123 recommendations in his report, including that Queensland Health appoint a chief executive officer — who is eminent in the field of forensic DNA analysis — to lead reform work for the laboratory.