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Forensic Science Queensland Director Suspended After DNA Lab Contamination

Authorities will review paused DNA testing after seven days with Wilson-Wilde facing a tight deadline to respond to a show cause notice

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Fresh contamination issues halt operations just weeks after shocking revelations of decades-old DNA errors.
A woman in a purple jacket with large silver buttons sitting in an office chair.

Overview

  • Attorney-General Deb Frecklington suspended director Linzi Wilson-Wilde and ordered a halt to routine DNA testing after contamination issues were detected
  • Forensic Science Queensland will continue urgent casework in a limited capacity under enhanced controls during the pause
  • A formal assessment of the paused operations is set for seven days to determine whether testing can safely resume
  • Wilson-Wilde has less than one week to reply to a show cause notice that could lead to her official removal as director
  • The lab has been under scrutiny since 2022-23 inquiries exposed a flawed automated DNA extraction method and triggered a review of over 40,000 historical samples