❓ Question regarding delays in forensic testing at PathWest, specifically in the Corryn Rayney case. The Minister claims the delay was not due to PathWest but to delays in material arriving from investigators.
AnsweredQoN 612Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PATHWEST — DELAYS IN FORENSIC TESTING
Before I ask my question, I welcome the students of Dwellingup Primary School, particularly the granddaughter of the member for Collie-Preston. I refer to recent media reports concerning delays in forensic testing at PathWest in cases such as the Corryn Rayney murder investigation. Has the minister investigated what the causes of these delays are and what measures has the minister taken to reduce them? Dr K.D. HAMES
Before I ask my question, I welcome the students of Dwellingup Primary School, particularly the granddaughter of the member for Collie-Preston. I refer to recent media reports concerning delays in forensic testing at PathWest in cases such as the Corryn Rayney murder investigation. Has the minister investigated what the causes of these delays are and what measures has the minister taken to reduce them? Dr K.D. HAMES
AnswerView source ↗
After that reported delay in forensics testing in the Rayney case, I discussed with Dr Peter Flett what the problem was and whether there were issues within forensics that needed to be addressed. The response I received was no; there were no problems. I am advised that the delay in that particular case was not anything to do with the forensic department itself. It was a delay in the material getting to it from the investigators of that case. The time it took to actually deal with the material that it was given was done in a relatively short space of time. Remember that some of the tests that have to be done are not like we watch on TV, where they take the sample and run away and, during that episode, they have got the result. Ms M.M. Quirk : The minister should not have time for TV! Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not suggesting the member is saying it is, but, as she knows, it takes a lot longer than that. As the Minister for Police said, some has to go overseas. The work that is done in the forensic department is done efficiently. It does depend upon the efficient provision of material, and, of course, some of it just takes time to get done.
I refer to recent media reports concerning delays in forensic testing at PathWest in cases such as the Corryn Rayney murder investigation. Has the minister investigated what the causes of these delays are and what measures has the minister taken to reduce them? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: After that reported delay in forensics testing in the Rayney case, I discussed with Dr Peter Flett what the problem was and whether there were issues within forensics that needed to be addressed. The response I received was no; there were no problems. I am advised that the delay in that particular case was not anything to do with the forensic department itself. It was a delay in the material getting to it from the investigators of that case. The time it took to actually deal with the material that it was given was done in a relatively short space of time. Remember that some of the tests that have to be done are not like we watch on TV, where they take the sample and run away and, during that episode, they have got the result. Ms M.M. Quirk : The minister should not have time for TV! Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not suggesting the member is saying it is, but, as she knows, it takes a lot longer than that. As the Minister for Police said, some has to go overseas. The work that is done in the forensic department is done efficiently. It does depend upon the efficient provision of material, and, of course, some of it just takes time to get done.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: After that reported delay in forensics testing in the Rayney case, I discussed with Dr Peter Flett what the problem was and whether there were issues within forensics that needed to be addressed. The response I received was no; there were no problems. I am advised that the delay in that particular case was not anything to do with the forensic department itself. It was a delay in the material getting to it from the investigators of that case. The time it took to actually deal with the material that it was given was done in a relatively short space of time. Remember that some of the tests that have to be done are not like we watch on TV, where they take the sample and run away and, during that episode, they have got the result. Ms M.M. Quirk : The minister should not have time for TV! Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not suggesting the member is saying it is, but, as she knows, it takes a lot longer than that. As the Minister for Police said, some has to go overseas. The work that is done in the forensic department is done efficiently. It does depend upon the efficient provision of material, and, of course, some of it just takes time to get done.
After that reported delay in forensics testing in the Rayney case, I discussed with Dr Peter Flett what the problem was and whether there were issues within forensics that needed to be addressed. The response I received was no; there were no problems. I am advised that the delay in that particular case was not anything to do with the forensic department itself. It was a delay in the material getting to it from the investigators of that case. The time it took to actually deal with the material that it was given was done in a relatively short space of time. Remember that some of the tests that have to be done are not like we watch on TV, where they take the sample and run away and, during that episode, they have got the result. Ms M.M. Quirk : The minister should not have time for TV! Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not suggesting the member is saying it is, but, as she knows, it takes a lot longer than that. As the Minister for Police said, some has to go overseas. The work that is done in the forensic department is done efficiently. It does depend upon the efficient provision of material, and, of course, some of it just takes time to get done.
Ms M.M. Quirk : The minister should not have time for TV! Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not suggesting the member is saying it is, but, as she knows, it takes a lot longer than that. As the Minister for Police said, some has to go overseas. The work that is done in the forensic department is done efficiently. It does depend upon the efficient provision of material, and, of course, some of it just takes time to get done.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not suggesting the member is saying it is, but, as she knows, it takes a lot longer than that. As the Minister for Police said, some has to go overseas. The work that is done in the forensic department is done efficiently. It does depend upon the efficient provision of material, and, of course, some of it just takes time to get done.
I refer to recent media reports concerning delays in forensic testing at PathWest in cases such as the Corryn Rayney murder investigation. Has the minister investigated what the causes of these delays are and what measures has the minister taken to reduce them? Dr K.D. HAMES replied: After that reported delay in forensics testing in the Rayney case, I discussed with Dr Peter Flett what the problem was and whether there were issues within forensics that needed to be addressed. The response I received was no; there were no problems. I am advised that the delay in that particular case was not anything to do with the forensic department itself. It was a delay in the material getting to it from the investigators of that case. The time it took to actually deal with the material that it was given was done in a relatively short space of time. Remember that some of the tests that have to be done are not like we watch on TV, where they take the sample and run away and, during that episode, they have got the result. Ms M.M. Quirk : The minister should not have time for TV! Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not suggesting the member is saying it is, but, as she knows, it takes a lot longer than that. As the Minister for Police said, some has to go overseas. The work that is done in the forensic department is done efficiently. It does depend upon the efficient provision of material, and, of course, some of it just takes time to get done.
Dr K.D. HAMES replied: After that reported delay in forensics testing in the Rayney case, I discussed with Dr Peter Flett what the problem was and whether there were issues within forensics that needed to be addressed. The response I received was no; there were no problems. I am advised that the delay in that particular case was not anything to do with the forensic department itself. It was a delay in the material getting to it from the investigators of that case. The time it took to actually deal with the material that it was given was done in a relatively short space of time. Remember that some of the tests that have to be done are not like we watch on TV, where they take the sample and run away and, during that episode, they have got the result. Ms M.M. Quirk : The minister should not have time for TV! Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not suggesting the member is saying it is, but, as she knows, it takes a lot longer than that. As the Minister for Police said, some has to go overseas. The work that is done in the forensic department is done efficiently. It does depend upon the efficient provision of material, and, of course, some of it just takes time to get done.
After that reported delay in forensics testing in the Rayney case, I discussed with Dr Peter Flett what the problem was and whether there were issues within forensics that needed to be addressed. The response I received was no; there were no problems. I am advised that the delay in that particular case was not anything to do with the forensic department itself. It was a delay in the material getting to it from the investigators of that case. The time it took to actually deal with the material that it was given was done in a relatively short space of time. Remember that some of the tests that have to be done are not like we watch on TV, where they take the sample and run away and, during that episode, they have got the result. Ms M.M. Quirk : The minister should not have time for TV! Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not suggesting the member is saying it is, but, as she knows, it takes a lot longer than that. As the Minister for Police said, some has to go overseas. The work that is done in the forensic department is done efficiently. It does depend upon the efficient provision of material, and, of course, some of it just takes time to get done.
Ms M.M. Quirk : The minister should not have time for TV! Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not suggesting the member is saying it is, but, as she knows, it takes a lot longer than that. As the Minister for Police said, some has to go overseas. The work that is done in the forensic department is done efficiently. It does depend upon the efficient provision of material, and, of course, some of it just takes time to get done.
Dr K.D. HAMES : I am not suggesting the member is saying it is, but, as she knows, it takes a lot longer than that. As the Minister for Police said, some has to go overseas. The work that is done in the forensic department is done efficiently. It does depend upon the efficient provision of material, and, of course, some of it just takes time to get done.
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