Whistleblower set to oversee DNA lab reform if LNP wins election
By Fraser Barton and Savannah Meacham
A whistleblower who exposed a state-run forensic lab’s failures has claimed the Queensland government rejected her offer to help, describing it as “attacking the messenger”.
Dr Kirsty Wright will lead DNA testing lab reforms if the Queensland opposition is elected in October, LNP leader David Crisafulli said.
But the forensic scientist said she had already applied to work at the lab retesting up to 100,000 DNA samples after her concerns sparked consecutive inquiries, only to be knocked back.
Forensic scientist Dr Kirsty Wright at a media conference on Tuesday.Credit: Matt Dennien
Wright said it felt like the state government was “attacking the messenger” after she spoke out about the lab’s problems.
“That’s certainly how I felt. Coming forward with these issues was an incredibly difficult thing for me to do,” she said.
“It came with enormous risks and sacrifices. Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for victims of crime and for Queenslanders – and I’ve done for free.”
Wright spoke out about issues at the government-run DNA lab, triggering two inquiries in as many years.
The first in 2022, led by Walter Sofronoff KC, found many DNA samples went untested and others were incorrectly ruled insufficient.
Retired Federal Court judge Annabelle Bennett led the second in 2023 that found an automated extraction method yielded up to 92 per cent less DNA than the manual technique.
The failure may have led to offenders escaping conviction over nine years.
“That’s just torture, that’s torturing victims of crime and adding to their trauma,” Wright said.
It was recommended samples between 2007 and 2016 be reviewed, with up to 100,000 – including 400 alleged rape victims – set to be retested.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said 3500 prioritised cases had been dealt with since March.
The backlog is expected to take three years to clear.
Wright said she applied for a position on the advisory council overseeing the retesting but was rejected, prompting accusations by the opposition that she was cast aside by the government.
Premier Steven Miles said Wright had not applied for the job before backtracking, claiming he thought the opposition was referring to a different position.
“I am quite confident the Leader of the Opposition asked about the CEO position, which I am advised she did not apply for,” he told parliament.
“But as I indicated earlier, there are well-established processes in the public service for merit-based appointment.”
Crisafulli said Wright would be appointed as a special advisor to the government to lead DNA testing reforms if the LNP won the October election.
“Dr Wright’s expertise and determination exposed the failings of the DNA Lab, now they can help deliver the reform desperately needed,” he said.
“It matters because as a result of these failings, murderers and rapists are walking the streets and victims have not got justice.”
Wright would take on the role before Christmas to look at a reform progress assessment, a historic case review and validation of new scientific methods used by the lab.
Following the two inquiries, the Miles government passed laws this year to create a forensic science institute.
AAP