Third investigation finds Queensland's forensic lab still struggling with six-year backlog

A third investigation into Queensland‘s state forensic lab has found DNA testing backlogs of up to six years.

The government spent about $200 million to address the issues identified.

Third Probe Reveals Ongoing Six-Year Backlog at Queensland's Forensic Lab
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli. (AFR)

But a third and independent investigation has now been finalised, finding the standard DNA testing thresholds still aren’t being implemented.

The report, led by Dr Kirsty Wright, found the delays have had a significant impact on families and are preventing offenders from being arrested.

It found an overall backlog of up to six years, including a two-year backlog for some 13,000 tests already states and delays of up to two years for coronial cases.

“We say samples. These are people, these are victims, these are defendants, these are people’s lives,” Wright said today.

“Thirteen thousand samples.

“At the moment the median time for the lab to process major crime cases, sexual assaults, rapes, murders is about 420 days.”

Former NSW Police commissioner Mick Fuller has been appointed to implement recommendations.

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