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                            LexisNexisª Academic

                Copyright 2002 Nationwide News Pty Limited
                            Townsville Bulletin

                        October 16, 2002, Wednesday

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 13

LENGTH: 325 words

HEADLINE: DNA database call renewed

BYLINE: Malcolm Weatherup

BODY:
THE Federal Member for Townsville Peter Lindsay has renewed his
controversial call for the establishment of a national database to hold DNA
information on all Australians.

Mr Lindsay said he wanted the DNA database debate renewed, in light of the
arrest of a suspect in the Peter Falconio outback murder case.

Last week, Northern Territory police said they had sufficient evidence from
DNA samples to charge Bradley John Murdoch with the murder of British
tourist Peter Falconio near Alice Springs in July last year. Murdoch came to
the attention of Darwin police after he was arrested on unrelated matters in
South Australia, and had a sample of his DNA placed on file.

At this stage, only convicted criminals have their DNA recorded.

"If there had been a national DNA database of all Australians, the police
would have resolved that matter much more quickly," Mr Lindsay said.

Mr Lindsay knows there are vocal opponents of such a scheme, but he believes
he has wide support.

"I have inspected the current DNA database in Canberra, and am absolutely
satisfied with its security. I reject outright any suggestion that it is
open to abuse."

Mr Lindsay said he saw only upsides to his stand, quoting instances of
suspects proved not guilty of crimes through DNA evidence.

"I know a comprehensive database would be a big process, but a good starting
point would be taking samples from newborn babies."

Civil libertarian Terry O'Gorman believes the average Australian would be
horrified by such a concept.

"If Mr Lindsay had made the suggestion that all newborns should be
fingerprinted at birth, people would be excused for looking at him sideways
and wondering if he had been reborn from Nazi Germany."

"And yet, DNA contains much more intimate, private and dangerous information
than fingerprints ever did."

He quoted a recent case under review due to a "real and credible complaint"
that police had planted DNA at a crime scene.

LOAD-DATE: October 15, 2002