National review into DNA labs under way

A closed-door review, led by the National Institute of Forensic Science, has been quietly happening since last October and is aiming for ‘national consistency’ across DNA labs.

A closed-door review is aiming for “national consistency” across DNA labs.

Australia’s peak body for forensic science is reviewing practices inside DNA laboratories across the country after a Queensland inquiry uncovered disturbing failures that may have let killers and rapists go free.

A closed-door review, led by the National Institute of Forensic Science and under way since last Oct­ober, is aiming for “national consistency” across DNA labs.

In a statement, a spokesman from the Attorney-General’s Department said all 123 recommendations from Queensland’s DNA inquiry were being reviewed at a national level. “This work will facilitate national consistency across identified issues and corrective actions noted in the commission’s final report,” he said.

Findings from the review will be handed to managers of 19 forensic labs across Australia and New Zealand but may not be made public.

The Australian understands the review is focused on how quality problems are investigated by labs.

Led by retired judge Walter Sofronoff, Queensland’s royal commission-style inquiry found the way the government-run lab handled quality problems fell well below best practice, with scientists “unwilling or unable” to raise their concerns.

“Some scientists are fearful of retribution or reprisal action if ­issues are raised,” the final report read. “Some scientists experienced that issues were raised but nothing was done to address the issue or it was regarded as a nuisance by the management team.”

Mr Sofronoff recommended the National Institute of Forensic Science develop a new framework for investigating quality issues in labs across the country.

Queensland’s lab mishandled evidence for at least a decade, with evidence now being re-­examined in 30,000 murders, rapes and other serious crimes.

Walter Sofronoff recommended the National Institute of Forensic Science develop a new framework for investigating quality issues in labs across the country following Queensland’s royal commission-style inquiry. Picture: iStock

The National Association of Testing Authorities visited and signed off on Queensland’s forensics laboratory at least twice when scientists had stopped testing crime scene samples with low levels of DNA.

Forensic biologist Kirsty Wright in February said crucial forensic evidence was being missed in other Australian states “without question” because of poor ­national quality standards.

Dr Wright, who first uncovered problems in Queensland’s lab as part of The Australian’s investigative podcast series Shandee’s Story, was “absolutely certain” things were slipping through the cracks in other jurisdictions ­because of weak quality standards.

She urged a new ­national standard for forensics labs to be accredited against.

During the $6m public inquiry into DNA testing, Mr Sofronoff discovered Queensland’s lab was accredited to a broad standard that did not “consider the integrity of the forensic science aspects of the laboratory”.