Forensic Science Service Tasmania staff were directed by the union not to release reports as part of ongoing industrial action in the state. 

The ban is impacting Tasmania Police’s ability to access DNA analysis that links offenders to property crimes such as car thefts, burglaries and stealing. 

“Under this action, there are 25 DNA reports that Tasmania Police would be able to immediately act on, but this vital information is being withheld from police,” Mr Ferguson said.  

Police have advised the minister that 14 of the withheld DNA reports match a person on the DNA database to a crime and the other 11 contain a potentially useful DNA result.

“It is outrageous that union bosses would put the community at risk like this,” he said.

“The people affected by these crimes will be rightly outraged that union action is allowing criminals to remain on the streets.”

The 2016 Public Sector Wages Agreement between the government and state branches of the Australian Education Union, Community and Public Sector Union, Health Services Union and United Voice expired on June 30. 

There have been ongoing calls for the government to scrap the 2 per cent wage cap.

Mr Ferguson stood by the offer of a 6 per cent pay rise over three years and accused the unions of allowing criminals to remain on the street in order to get more than taxpayers can afford. 

From November 6, CPSU members in Forensic Science Services Tasmania began withholding the calibration of 10 per cent of evidential breathalysers, withholding the release of routine reports on test results for minor crime to Tasmania Police and banned the provision of external training.