Queensland's forensic DNA lab inquiry finds 'serious' failures reduced prospect of conviction, thousands of samples may be retested

A report into forensic DNA testing in Queensland has found "serious" failures at a state-run lab, caused by a series of factors including "mismanagement" and "dishonesty by senior managers". Key points: Commissioner Walter Sofronoff said the number of criminal cases impacted by "grave maladministration" at the lab "cannot be quantified" Failures include a culture that was "ineffective at allowing scientific disagreement to be ventilated" More than 120 recommendations were made to address "disturbing and troubling" issues A commission of inquiry was led by former president of the Court of Appeal Walter Sofronoff, who said major issues at the lab persisted for years. His report recommended within the next year the state government set up a way – likely through a review sub-committee – to retrospectively review cases including: Major crime cases that include a sample or samples reported as "DNA insufficient for further processing" since 2018 Major crime cases received by the lab since January 2012 which did not receive holistic case management Sexual assault cases processed by the laboratory between January 1, 2008, and August 8, 2016, where sperm was not identified on the evidence-recovery slide for a sample and the lab did not perform further testing on the sample Mr Sofronoff said the samples would be retested in Queensland but testing work could be contracted out to other labs in Australia and New Zealand to help with the caseload. In the report's foreword Mr Sofronoff noted that in late 2021, before the commission of inquiry had been announced, the lab's managing scientist Cathie Allen fed the health department and in-turn the premier and Health Minister Yvette D'Ath "misleading information".