‘Racked, stacked and packed’: Budget cuts blamed for overflowing morgues

The state government is facing calls to reverse budget cuts that an MP says would horrify families that have lost loved ones.

SA Forensic science boss Dr Linzi Wilson-Wilde. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Dead bodies are being kept in an external storage facility under a “disturbing rack, pack and stack policy” implemented because the morgue at Forensic Science SA is full, a parliamentary committee has heard.

So inadequate is the forensic agency’s CBD headquarters, scientists cannot use the latest technology, no more electrical equipment can be accommodated and the building does not meet workplace safety or security standards.

Despite an increased death rate since South Australia’s borders reopened, the state government has imposed a budget cut and is not considering relocation until the current lease on the Divett Place building expires in 2027.

In evidence before the Budget and Finance Committee, Forensic Science SA director Professor Linzi Wilson-Wilde said the premises was not fit for purpose.

“Providing the service to South Australia would be difficult from the current facility,” she said.

“The mortuary has exceeded capacity, so we have an offsite facility to assist with the body storage facility.”

SA Best party leader Frank Pangallo. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Prof Wilson-Wilde said “surge capacity is limited in a mass casualty event”, and the agency has been approached by hospitals to take bodies because their own morgues are full. For security reasons, the location of the storage facility could not be disclosed.

She said the working space is “exceedingly tight” for staff and equipment, and the electrical board is at capacity.

“Innovation is limited because we don’t have any space to adopt innovative technologies,” she said.

The building does not meet Work Health and Safety guidelines or modern security standards for forensic facilities.

A $250,000 budget cut for the 2022-23 financial year was adding further pressure, Prof Wilson-Wilde said.

SA-BEST MLC Frank Pangallo, a member of the committee, said families of the deceased would be “horrified” at the situation, which he called a “disturbing rack, pack and stack policy that seems to be going on with human cadavers”.

He called on the government to reverse the budget cut and move the agency.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher was unavailable for comment on Sunday.

Asked whether Forensic Science SA would be relocated to a new facility before its lease ends, a government spokeswoman said “the government ... is continuing to work with FSSA on how its operations will be managed once the current lease on Divett Place expires”.

She said Forensic Science SA has continued to excel despite challenges presented by the COVID pandemic.

“FSSA forensic science and forensic medicine practitioners continue to provide South Australia with a quality service in line with international standards,” she said.

“FSSA continue to provide the utmost care for deceased persons that come into their custody, despite the increase in workloads. This is done in line with standard practice used in other jurisdictions.”

In a statement, a spokeswoman for SA Pathology said the agency manages the mortuaries of the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre, Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

She said two refrigerated trucks are available for use at times of increased demand.

“We have previously, and will again, manage increased demand when it occurs, and in such instances bodies are stored by Forensic Science SA,” she said.