Following allegations that police are investigating sexual assault cases dating back to 2018, Queensland may start an investigation into its state-run forensics lab.
The Australian’s podcast series Shandee’s Story about the investigation into Shandee Blackburn’s death in 2013 initially exposed potential concerns with the lab.
According to the publication, Queensland Police are looking into hundreds of sexual assault cases where evidence has been reported as having “insufficient DNA for processing.”
The government has ordered a review into the systems and processes at the state-run Forensic DNA Analysis Unit.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the investigation may be just the first step.
‘That’s not to say that there’s not going to be a further inquiry,’ she told reporters on Thursday.
‘Do not for one moment think that I do not think these issues are serious … the health minister is absolutely committed to seeing what is going on and fixing this.’
Terms of reference for the government review were tabled in May and include investigating the appropriateness of threshold limits for DNA samples.
Specimens that fall below a certain level are reported as ‘no DNA detected’ or ‘DNA insufficient for further processing’, and the review will look at how Queensland compares to other jurisdictions.
Liberal National Party spokeswoman for the prevention of sexual violence Amanda Camm called for the lab to be investigated by a Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland Police Service.
‘It’s incredibly traumatic for a victim of sexual assault to go through a forensic medical examination,’ she said.
‘They need to have every assurance that they won’t be robbed of justice because of the failings of the lab.’
Shandee Blackburn, 23, was stabbed multiple times in a frenzied attack metres from her front door as she returned from a late shift at Harrup Park Country Club in Mackay, just after midnight on February 9, 2013.
A coronial investigation into her death will be reopened following a request by the state’s Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman.
Ms Fentiman asked for further consideration given ‘recent issues raised regarding the forensic evidence and testing of evidence in this case’, a Coroners Court of Queensland official said in February.
The Central Coroner has not yet decided if the inquest will be reopened.
