Quensland's problem-plagued forensic DNA lab will be the subject of a second inquiry after a whistleblower raised concerns the first investigation missed the failures of a method used by the facility.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman announced Thursday a fresh inquiry into the forensic DNA lab after Dr Kirsty Wright raised concerns the initial commission of inquiry didn't adequately examine Project 13, a flawed automated DNA extraction method.
"If we have missed some really important facts when it came to Project 13 as part of the previous inquiry then we're going to leave no stone unturned now," Fentiman said.
Project 13 is a method that uses robots to extract DNA from crime scene samples.
Wright raised the concerns a month ago that the method was recovering less DNA.
"DNA from crime scenes was simply going to fail so murderers and rapists were potentially not going to be apprehended over nine years because of this method," Wright said.
The new inquiry, to be headed by Dr Annabelle Bennett, will examine the concerns about Project 13 and whether the recommendations from the initial inquiry sufficiently addressed any issues.
Bennett can interview any and all experts that faced the first inquiry providing evidence about DNA extraction methods relating to Project 13.
"This new inquiry will ensure a transparent and comprehensive review of matters raised after the original inquiry and is in line with the Queensland government's commitment to rebuilding the state's forensic and DNA testing processes," Fentiman said.
The final report will be handed down on November 17.
Last year a commission of inquiry was held to examine failings at the state-run DNA lab when concerns were raised that thousands of samples were not adequately tested.
The report into the failings was scathing, with the commission finding six years' worth of DNA swabs in sexual assault cases were not properly tested and some samples were missed.
An estimated 30,000 cases were impacted and need to be reviewed.
Problems with the lab were exposed by a podcast series on the murder of Shandee Blackburn, who died after being stabbed multiple times as she walked home from work in Mackay.
As a result of the failed automated DNA extraction methods, another 7000 cases will need to be reviewed.
"We have already seen some very promising results since last year's Inquiry, and this second Inquiry looking specifically at Project 13 will ensure that the public can have full confidence in our state's forensic services," Fentiman said.
Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath the new inquiry is to provide Queenslanders faith in the judicial system after failures by the forensic DNA lab.
"Victims of crime and their families are entitled to learn the truth," D'Ath said.
"If we are to rebuild trust in our systems, we need to build on the good work already undertaken to turn Forensic Science Queensland into a world-leading facility."
