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The decision to stand down staff comes despite Sofronoff making no findings about the reason for the process change,and responsibility for this.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath reiterated confidence in the lab and her department’s advice on Tuesday.
Comment has been sought from Queensland Health.
Palaszczuk told reporters she had no advice suggesting there was ministerial involvement in the decision to change testing procedures in the lab.
She refused to be drawn on the factors behind that decision,citing the need to let the inquiry conduct its work.
Shadow attorney-general Tim Nicholls said the findings “opened a Pandora’s box of trouble for the justice system in this state”.
Opposition spokesperson on prevention of domestic,family and sexual violence,Amanda Camm,called on D’Ath and Palaszczuk to apologise,after senior Labor government figures for months derided the LNP’s calls for the inquiry.
Queensland Law Society President Kara Thomson said the interim findings would have “wide-ranging effects” on criminal proceedings.
Julie Sarkozi,law reform and education practice director at Women’s Legal Service Queensland,said the situation underlined the need for a victim’s commission in the state — like other jurisdictions — to hear complaints and raises issues on behalf of people experiencing difficulties in the justice system.
Public hearings were set to begin from Monday,with the inquiry expected to call witnesses and examine the lab’s systems,its relationship with the Queensland Police Service — which partly funds the lab — and whether testing adhered to standards.
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