Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, Deb Frecklington, has moved to immediately suspend, pending a show cause notice for removal, the Director of Forensic Science Queensland (FSQ), Linzi Wilson-Wilde over “contamination issues”.
“This action was taken following advice I received today that FSQ was placing a general pause on routine DNA testing after contamination issues were identified,” said Ms Frecklington.
FSQ’s pause in operations will occur for a preliminary period of seven days and this will be reviewed by FSQ after this period to determine the next steps, she confirmed.
“The Government has been advised FSQ will continue to progress urgent matters in a limited capacity during this time and that this can be done with appropriate controls.”
“I want to assure Queenslanders the Crisafulli Government remains firmly committed to fixing the long-standing issues at Forensic Science Queensland,” the Attorney-General said.
Ms Wilson-Wilde was appointed to the role in September last year.
FSQ is an independent statutory authority and forensic service provider, which supports the criminal justice and coronial systems with specialised services in forensic biology and forensic chemistry.
Commissions of inquiry held in 2022 and 2023 found serious failings over many years at the lab, including a “fatally flawed” automated testing method that may have seen offenders escape conviction.
