In June 2022, the Queensland Government established a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into Forensic DNA Testing, led by Mr Walter Sofronoff KC. By September 2022, Mr Sofronoff KC produced an interim report containing three recommendations, followed by a final report in December 2022, producing a further 123 recommendations for significant reforms in forensic services.

In 2023, a further COI was established, led by Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC, which produced an additional two recommendations. The recommendations from both Commissions were fully accepted by the Queensland Government with a commitment of $170 million to improve and sustain forensic service delivery across the state.

Documents

Recommendation progress

FSQ has been working with our justice system stakeholders to progress and implement the recommendations.

79

Closed

1

Completed pending approval

2

Substantially implemented pending FR change*

37

In progress

7

Yet to commence

As at 10 June 2025
Inclusive of Sofronoff Inquiry Interim Report and Final Report Recommendations

*The Forensic Register is a forensic case management application with an integrated laboratory information management system (LIMS) used by the Queensland Police Service and FSQ for storage of all forensic case information including evidence collection, examination, analysis and results into a single case file record. The ‘Substantially implemented pending Forensic Register changes’ category was created following a decision by the FSQ Advisory Council. Two previously closed recommendations (Recs 33 and 119) were subsequently placed in this category as further opportunities to enhance FSQ’s results reporting practices were identified in the Forensic Register.

Last updated: June 2025