No new funding to clear Queensland rape-case backlog

Queensland Premier Steven Miles is refusing to commit extra funding to fast-track DNA results as hundreds of sexual assault victims wait more than a year for news on their alleged attacks.

Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman and Premier Steven Miles in Hervey Bay on Monday. Picture: Liam Kidston

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Premier Steven Miles is refusing to commit extra funding to fast-track DNA results from more than 1000 rape kits stuck in a backlog at Queensland’s government-run ­forensics laboratory as hundreds of sexual assault victims wait more than a year for results from their alleged attacks.

Mr Miles said his government would continue a recruitment campaign of scientists and ­“explore” outsourcing samples to other labs, but fell short of committing extra resources to clear the backlog. Testing delays at the ­forensics lab come almost two years after the state Labor government vowed to rebuild public trust in forensic services following a commission of inquiry found evidence had been mishandled for years. The Australian on Monday revealed police were waiting on ­results from 1058 rape kits, 420 of which were submitted for testing more than a year ago.

Almost half of the 1058 cases have not even undergone initial biological examination, which includes screening for sperm and reporting those results to police.

Forensic scientist Kirsty Wright, who first exposed Queensland’s DNA lab disaster on the The Australian’s podcast Shandee’s Story, has called on the government to outsource more testing to other labs as it scrambles to keep up with incoming samples, implement recommendations from two major inquiries and conduct a separate historical review of 40,000 major crime cases.

Queensland began outsourcing some of testing to labs in New Zealand and Britain after the 2022 commission of inquiry, but Dr Wright said more needed to be done to clear the backlog.

Mr Miles said staff at the lab were “doing their very best to get through that backlog” but would not say when it was expected to be cleared. “I understand how important it is for Queenslanders to have confidence in our DNA testing lab,” he said in a statement.

“That’s why my government will continue to undertake a significant recruitment campaign to boost the labs capacity and explore outsourcing opportunities.

“This month my government appointed an 11-member advisory council to monitor and review the policies and procedures at Forensic Science Queensland.

“It’s my expectation that this additional expert oversight will support Forensic Science Queensland to deliver the highest standards possible and support victims of crime.”

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the state had invested $202.7m to rebuild forensic services and claimed the lab was “getting through the backlog”. “It will not be solved overnight, but we’re implementing all of the recommendations from the commission of inquiry, and the DPP are prioritising those cases that need to be before the courts,” she said.

Whistleblowers and victim ­advocates have told The Australian there were major concerns testing delays would prevent police from making arrests or laying charges against alleged rapists, with matters before the courts being prioritised.

Women’s Legal Service Queensland chief executive Nadia Bromley said testing delays were horrific and would “almost certainly” prompt some victims to withdraw their complaints before charges were laid.

“It’s a difficult decision to make a report, to go through the process, and the thought that someone would cause themselves that ­trauma, go through that and then ultimately not be able to withstand years of waiting and abandon it, is heartbreaking,” she said.

“But obviously it is a very real prospect. I think people can only tolerate things for so long and having that sort of unending process, I think probably just continues the trauma.”

Forensic Science Queensland chief executive Linzi ­Wilson-Wilde said in mid-2023 that she was confident clearing the backlog of samples would take “two to three years” but Ms Bromley said the lab must be “open and honest” if it did not believe that target could still be met. “Just listen to the experts, whether that’s outsourcing or whatever strategy they need to adopt,” she said. “What we can’t have is just continual delays … so they just need to draw a line in the sand and communicate clearly with victims, so victims can make informed decisions.”

Queensland Liberal National Party leader David Crisafulli said the 12-month wait for results was unacceptable, but would not commit to outsourcing more samples to other labs if his party won government at next month’s state election.

“That’s something that we’re still considering,” he said.

“I believe that a state our size needs a world-class laboratory and I do believe that it is possible with the right people, the right leadership to turn that around.

“My No.1 priority is to deal with that backlog, but a big part of that has to be to get the culture of that laboratory right.”