"Amongst the current massive backlog of untested DNA evidence could be the key to solving a recent wave of sexual assaults", Shadow Police Minister Mike Gallacher and Shadow Attorney General Greg Smith said today. 

“It is very frustrating for Police to potentially have all the evidence they need to catch an offender sitting in a bag in a lab somewhere, with no results,” Mr Gallacher said.

“Under-resourcing is potentially letting rapists roam the streets as the Iemma Government dithers over resourcing DNA testing."

“When it takes over eleven months to even finalise the tender to supply robotic DNA analysis technology, it is obvious Labor’s claims they’re pouring resources into the Division of Analytical Laboratories and other test facilities are fiction."

“It was only last month Police finally closed the tender process for robotic testing even though it was funded in last year’s budget."1

“The Iemma Labor Government needs to explain to the community why robotic testing is taking so long."

“Today during Question Time, John Hatzistergos certainly had no answers other than Labor’s continuing rhetoric on the subject."

“The community won’t accept Labor’s spin and excuses if these attacks continue and Police are unable to access crucial evidence,” Mr Gallacher said.

NSW Shadow Attorney-General Greg Smith SC says it’s imperative the Iemma Labor Government speed up the DNA sampling process.

“Analytical laboratories have been unable to supply NSW Police with the results of testing in a satisfactory timeframe. Even outsourcing the backlog to a private company has failed to make any significant overall in-roads,” Mr Smith said.

“The Ombudsman has been calling for Police to be provided with more resources to address the backlog and provide more staff to the forensic unit since at least 2004."

“The Iemma Labor Government’s continuing delays in resourcing DNA test labs is consequently letting rapists roam the streets."

“Unless there is an injection of funds to bring on additional staff, the five taskforces hunting these attackers will continue to be at a disadvantage.

“I call on the Iemma Labor Government to drop its spin and urgently resource DNA tests to help put these rapists behind bars,” he said.

1. DNA robotics tender request attached