‘Shocking’ new DNA bungle puts dozens of paternity tests under a cloud

The scandal involving a string of high-profile forensics failures in Queensland has taken a new turn, with dozens of paternity tests now under a cloud.

Data-handling errors caused inaccuracies in at least 69 results from 37 police cases dating back to 1983, Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said on Wednesday.

The failure doesn’t mean people have been incorrectly identified as relatives, but instead relates to the formula used to estimate the likelihood of a DNA match.

Deb Frecklington speaks at 1 William Street in Brisbane on Wednesday. Credit: William Davis

Frecklington also revealed an incorrect DNA profile was mistakenly uploaded to a national database during a child rape investigation in 2022.

“[This] is one of the most shocking failures in public policy in this state, the nation – and perhaps even the world,” Frecklington said.

Failures at Forensic Science Queensland have attracted significant attention since they first emerged in 2022.

The government believes offenders may have escaped conviction due to “fundamentally flawed” DNA testing over a decade.

An inquiry into the forensics lab found an automated DNA extraction method, used from 2007 to 2016, was “fundamentally flawed”. As a result, more than 100,000 samples reportedly needed to be retested, and two senior lab employees were stood down.

After the latest revelations, all kinship and paternity testing at FSQ – exclusively carried out in relation to alleged crimes, including sexual assault, or for use in coronial inquests – has been stopped.

“Given these shocking findings, FSQ is halting any further kinship or paternity testing, with that service being outsourced until there is full confidence that it can resume,” Frecklington said.

“It is crucial we get this organisation back on track to being the world-class facility that Queenslanders deserve and expect.”

Both errors – the paternity testing failures and the uploading of the wrong DNA profile – were reportedly identified in 2024.

An independent inquiry into FSQ is due to hand down its findings within months.

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