- Crisafulli Government commits $50 million to outsource thousands of DNA samples and address Labor’s DNA backlog.
- Labor’s DNA Debacle left Queensland with one of the greatest failures of a justice system in the world.
- Backlog blitz will see DNA samples sent overseas for testing and analysis, including rape kits and major crime cases.
- New outsourcing program delivers on Crisafulli Government’s commitment for faster access to justice for victims.
The Crisafulli Government has announced a $50 million outsourcing program, in the next major step to eliminate Labor’s DNA backlog.
Under the new outsourcing strategy, DNA samples for rape kits, most major crime cases, and unidentified human remains will be sent overseas for testing.
It is currently taking 63 weeks – or 445 days – to process major crime samples and get results back to Police.
Thousands of samples are currently backlogged, including:
- Up to 60 sets of human remains
- 10,409 major crime samples
- 663 rape and sexual assault kits (FMEKs)
- 121 of these samples are child victims or victims with a disability
The Department of Justice will oversee a new outsourcing taskforce, with the involvement of Forensic Science Queensland and the Queensland Police Service.
The two-year program will allow Forensic Science Queensland to focus on clearing Labor’s historical case backlog, with more than 2300 cases currently identified as requiring scientific review.
It will also enable Forensic Science Queensland to put increased focus on implementing all Commission of Inquiry recommendations along with any forthcoming DNA Review recommendations.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said outsourcing was the next necessary step to clean up Labor’s DNA debacle.
“Labor presided over one of the greatest failures of a justice system anywhere in the world,” the Attorney-General said.
“These aren’t just statistics, they are people who have faced some of the worst crimes imaginable and we owe it to each of them, and their families, to get the answers they deserve.
“The backlogs at Forensic Science Queensland mean a rapist could be walking free on the street or a child could be left living in the same home as their offender – and that is unacceptable.
“The Crisafulli Government has been steadfast in its commitment to put victims first and this outsourcing program will deliver faster access to justice.
“It will also provide an opportunity for Forensic Science Queensland to be reshaped into the world-class laboratory that it should be.”
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said victims of crime deserved justice sooner.
“We went to the election promising we would deliver change and put victims at the centre of everything we do,” Minister Purdie said.
“The outsourcing of DNA is a critical step towards justice for tens of thousands of Queenslanders who were let down by the former Labor government.
“Justice delayed is justice denied – Queenslanders deserve better.”
The outsourcing strategy comes ahead of results of the Crisafulli Government’s review of DNA testing operations, which is due to report in the coming months.
