Investigation into Public Health Virology Laboratory

On 5 December 2024 Queensland Health commissioned an independent Health Service Investigation under Part 9 of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 into historical record-keeping breaches at its Public Health Virology Lab.

While the breaches are not believed to pose a public health risk, the investigation is being carried out to ensure full transparency and accountability and to reduce the risk of similar breaches occurring.

Since the discovery of the breaches, Queensland health have taken all necessary steps to ensure this does not re-occur, including:

• notifying the regulators
• retraining staff to ensure ongoing compliance with required regulations
• an audit of all relevant permits
• correct storage of materials.

The leader for the Health Service Investigation is The Hon Martin Daubney AM KC, a retired Supreme Court judge with extensive experience in mediation, arbitration and governance advisory work. Dr Julian Druce is a co-investigator. Dr Druce is a Senior Medical Scientist with over 20 years of experience as a high containment laboratory and biosecurity expert.

Investigation process

The investigators have been appointed to ensure nothing has been overlooked in responding to the breaches and examine the current policies and procedures in operation today at the laboratory.

The draft report was scheduled to be delivered by 9 June 2025 and is now due by 11 July 2025 with the final report now due 1 August 2025.

Extensions were granted to give the investigators sufficient time to consider all the information and evidence gathered.

Terms of reference

View the full Terms of Reference (PDF 227 kB).