David Crisafulli vows to put DNA expert Kirsty Wright in charge of overseeing lab reforms

Dr Kirsty Wright, a decorated forensic biologist who discovered horrifying problems in Queensland’s government-run DNA lab, was snubbed by Labor.

Kirsty Wright with Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli on Tuesday. Picture: Lydia Lynch

The scientist who exposed Queensland’s DNA testing disaster will be appointed to oversee the restructure of the troubled laboratory if the Liberal National Party wins next month’s state election.

Dr Kirsty Wright, a decorated forensic biologist, discovered horrifying problems in Queensland’s government-run DNA lab on The Australian’s investigative podcast series Shandee’s Story.

It was her relentless pursuit for the truth that prompted two major commissions of inquiry, in 2022 and 2023, which confirmed her findings that disastrous testing practices at the lab had compromised thousands of criminal cases and potentially allowed killers and rapists to escape justice.

The Labor government last month dismissed Dr Wright’s application to be part of a new 11-member forensic advisory board, with Premier Steven Miles saying appointments had to be “merit-based”.

On Tuesday, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli vowed to appoint Dr Wright to head a new short-term review into the delivery of reforms at the DNA lab if the LNP wins the October 26 state election.

“She uncovered the DNA lab debacle and she’s the best person to guide its reform,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“The LNP has charted a clear course to deliver justice for thousands of crime victims who have been let down in Labor’s DNA debacle. Our plan will guide the reform of the lab and oversee a review of historic cases, to deliver justice faster.”

Mr Crisafulli condemned the third-term Labor government for excluding Dr Wright from the council, describing her as the “best of the best”.

“Dr Wright’s expertise and determination exposed the failings of the DNA Lab, now they can help deliver the reform desperately needed,” he said.

Under the LNP’s plan, Dr Wright would make findings and recommendations that would be reported to government and the Forensic Science Queensland Advisory Council.

During Question Time on Tuesday, Mr Miles was grilled by the LNP over the decision to shut Dr Wright out of lab reform and asked to “acknowledge the missed opportunity to use her skills to fix the DNA debacle”.

Shandee's Story podcast’s Hedley Thomas and Dr Kirsty Wright. Picture by Richard Gosling

Mr Miles said there were “well established processes in the public service for merit based appointments”.

“Of course we continue to value her contribution that she has made, and encourage her to continue to make that contribution, while we continue to do the important work of ensuring our lab workers have the resources and expertise that they need to complete the testing backlog,” he said.

The Australian understands the three-person selection panel for the advisory board was made up of then-interim Victims Commissioner Jon Rouse, President of the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences and chief scientist at the AFP’s Forensics Command Dr Simon Walsh and the deputy-director of the department of Justice and Attorney-General.

Based on the Gold Coast, Dr Wright works for the Australian Army developing forensic capability for counter-terrorism and national security needs, and as an RAAF reservist squadron leader helps recover and identify fallen soldiers from historic and current conflicts.

She previously ran the national DNA database and led efforts to identify victims of the Bali bombings and the Boxing Day tsunami. Her assistance in recovering and identifying the remains of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe earned her a Queensland Police Commissioner’s Award.

Dr Wright teamed with The Australian’s Hedley Thomas in 2021 on his podcast series Shandee’s Story, which investigated the 2013 stabbing murder of Shandee Blackburn.

After reviewing material sent by Thomas in her own time, Dr Wright quickly became convinced the lab had concealed systemic issues with its methods, putting the public at risk from serious and violent offenders who were not being identified.

She persistently called for an inquiry while the government ignored her and bureaucrats and lab staff tried to silence her and paint her as a disgruntled employee.

Dr Wright said she was disappointed to be rejected from the forensic advisory council, and was not even offered the opportunity to interview for the role.

“Everything that I’ve done, I’ve done for victims of crime and for Queenslanders, and I’ve done it for free,” she said.

“Both inquiries showed that all of my allegations were correct. I haven’t been found wrong once, so I don’t understand why.

“It’s been very frustrating feeling like I’ve been on the outside of reforms but this opportunity gives me visibility of what actually is happening in the lab and across the whole of the system,” she said.

“I’ll be looking at that data and really trying to get to the bottom of what’s happening and come up with solutions with the other stakeholders.”

The LNP’s justice spokesman Tim Nicholls said the Labor government could not be trusted to reform the lab, with more than 400 rape victims waiting longer than a year for DNA results.

“It’s been six-months since the second inquiry and victims are still waiting to be contacted about their cases, while retesting is barely progressing,” he said.

“Without the proper oversight, we risk justice never being served for some of the most serious cases in Queensland’s history.

“Shockingly, whistleblowers are now telling the LNP the lab is not independently verifying equipment, and has instead been self-certifying, in spite of the inquiry’s findings. “Given the alarming revelations which shook our justice system to its core, the best experts must oversee the reform and ensure it is done right.”