Backlog of forensic tests for Queensland’s rape victims is 20 times larger than Victoria’s
New data obtained by The Australian reveals there are 51 sexual assault victims in Victoria awaiting results from their forensic medical examinations compared with 1058 in Queensland.
The backlog of rape kits at Queensland’s government-run DNA laboratory is 20 times the size of Victoria’s, exposing the extent of testing delays at the beleaguered facility.
New data obtained by The Australian reveals 51 sexual assault victims in Victoria are awaiting results from forensic medical examinations, compared with 1058 in Queensland.
Some 420 victims in Queensland have endured delays of more than a year for results from their rape kits, which can provide crucial evidence for police to make arrests and lay charges.
In Victoria, four cases have been waiting on final results for longer than a year but a Victoria Police spokeswoman said all four had initial DNA results reported and were “waiting on further items or DNA reference samples to be lodged” at the forensics lab.
Forensic biologist Kirsty Wright, who exposed Queensland’s DNA lab disaster on The Australian’s podcast Shandee’s Story, said the disparity between Queensland and Victoria was “staggering”. “These figures show how much worse off victims of crime in Queensland are, compared to victims in other states,” she said. “A majority of sexual offence victims do not report their attacks to police. The Forensic Science Queensland delays could further deter victims coming forward. The delay in DNA evidence could also hinder police investigations, and affect court outcomes.”
Queensland's DNA lab, funded by taxpayers and overseen by the justice department, is struggling to meet incoming case demands as it implements recommendations from two major commissions of inquiry and undertakes a separate review of 40,000 cases embroiled in a botched testing scandal dating back more than a decade.
The current DNA testing backlog for all major crimes in the state, which does not include the historical review, is 3185 cases.
Victoria’s forensics lab has 123 pending requests for major crime cases across all forensic disciplines, which includes DNA, fingerprints, ballistics, drugs, document examination and gunshot residue.
Queensland’s Labor government, which is facing an election next month, invested $200m into its lab after two commissions of inquiry in 2022 and 2023 but has refused extra funding to fast-track DNA results from the backlog.
The lab began outsourcing some testing to other facilities in New Zealand and Britain after the 2022 commission of inquiry, but Dr Wright said more needed to be done to ensure rape kits were tested in appropriate timeframes.
“FSQ needs to be transparent and provide the public with a clear strategy on how they are addressing the backlog of over 3000 current major crime cases,” she said
“Hiring more staff is not a short, to medium-term solution, given the time taken to train new staff to work on major crime cases.”
Premier Steven Miles last week said his government would continue a recruitment campaign of scientists and “explore” outsourcing samples to other labs,
Queensland’s new Victims’ Commissioner, Beck O’Connor said improving testing times must be a priority. “It takes courage to report a crime like rape and sexual violence to police so I understand that long delays in the justice process due to waiting on forensic evidence must be incredibly difficult for victim-survivors,” she said.
“While I am aware of efforts across government to respond to the issues … waiting times must … be a priority to resolve.”
A NSW police spokesman it was unable to provide figures on the state’s DNA backlog “due to the resource-intensive nature” of The Australian’s request for data.
Anyone who believes they were involved in a police investigation possibly impacted by testing problems can contact a dedicated DNA hotline on 1300 993 191. For counselling and support, contact Queensland Sexual Assault Helpline on 1800 737 732
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