Drugs | Alcohol | Steroids | Poisons — hair, blood, saliva, breath, urine
Court-optimised forensic reports
A laboratory certificate reports what was detected. It does not tell a court what that means. End-to-end forensic support — from a verbal opinion through to a written report and expert testimony.
- Reports in 10–14 business days
- 30+ years' experience
- Independent and impartial
- Ph.D., Medicine — Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Monash University
- B.Sc. (Hons), Pharmacology and Toxicology — Monash University
- Post-doctoral fellowship, forensic toxicology — National Medical Services, Pennsylvania, USA
Independent, and that is the whole point
Dr Michael Robertson is one of Australia's few independent, fully trained clinical and forensic toxicologists. He is engaged directly and gives his opinion on the science regardless of which side instructed him.
We cannot guarantee a report will support your position, and would not offer to. If you are unsure which way the evidence falls, arrange a verbal consultation first — it is cheaper than a written report you then cannot use.
Why independence matters
With over 30 years' experience, he is nationally recognised for his expertise in drug and alcohol matters and is a standing scientific resource to the legal community, including Legal Aid.
Independence is not a marketing line — it is what makes the evidence usable. An expert who can be shown to shape conclusions to the instructing party's case is an expert whose report gets discounted.
Questions he can address
8 examples
- What do the results actually mean?
- Could the sample have been tampered with or mixed up?
- Could the result be inaccurately high or low because of the testing method or instrument?
- What do results signify if the sample was taken hours after an incident?
- Did alcohol or drugs cause or contribute to an incident, altercation or accident?
- Could prescription medication explain the finding?
- Do these results imply that a parent is a drug or alcohol abuser?
- How should court orders be worded so the testing actually answers the question?
Reports we provide
Six practice areas, each with a different question at its centre.
Family law and child custody
Interpretation of substance-use evidence where custody and welfare decisions turn on it. Includes advising on which testing regime will actually answer the court's question, recommending segmental analysis where a pattern over time is in issue, and reviewing the other side's expert evidence.
Criminal proceedings
Evaluating whether a substance influenced behaviour, and to what degree. Covers assault matters, drug-related fatalities, poisonings and drug-facilitated crime, for both prosecution and defence.
DUI and DUID defence
Cause-and-effect analysis, blood alcohol back-calculation to the time of the incident, evaluation of testing-instrument accuracy, symptom correlation, and drug–alcohol interaction effects.
Workplace relations and safety
Incident evaluation, including whether prescribed medication affected performance. Education for management, unions and employees on the strengths and limits of urine, oral fluid and hair testing, and expert input into industrial disputes over testing regimes.
Insurance claims and civil litigation
Whether alcohol or drugs contributed to an accident, injury or death; review of medical and prescription records for toxicity and behavioural effect; and critique of other experts' reports.
Medical negligence and post-mortem toxicology
Medication errors and inappropriate dosages, drug interactions in polypharmacy, interpretation of post-mortem drug levels and how they shift after death, autopsy report evaluation, poison identification, and expert witness testimony.
How it works
- 1
Tell us exactly what you need
Email your requirements, contact details, the deadline you are working to, and any test results or prior reports you hold. We respond within one business day to confirm availability — and will decline rather than accept a deadline we cannot meet.
- 2
We prepare your report
Once scope is confirmed and payment processed, the report is prepared to your specification, verbal or written. Reports are objective, scientifically defensible, and written in language a court can follow without a chemistry degree.
- 3
Expert witness support
Testimony is available through the judicial process, in person or by video link — not just delivery of a written document and then silence.
Expert consultation — verbal opinion
$495 – $3,375
A phone consultation on results you already hold — hair, blood, urine, saliva or breath — including whether they support the position you need to argue.
Written forensic report
$1,375 – $3,375
A written interpretation prepared for court, in plain language, designed to withstand judicial and scientific scrutiny.
Fees vary with the complexity of the matter. Some cases are straightforward; others require substantial analysis. A rough quote is given on the initial enquiry, and a final quote is confirmed after Dr Robertson has reviewed the material — before any report work begins. Court testimony is quoted separately and depends on the time the court requires and whether attendance is in person or by audio-visual link.
Practical points before you call
Can I speak to the expert directly, without an appointment?
Not usually. Dr Robertson is frequently giving expert testimony across Australia. Email your requirements with any relevant results through the booking form and you will get a response within one business day.
Can I arrange a verbal consultation before committing to a written report?
Yes, and it is often the sensible order. A verbal consultation gives you preliminary insight into which direction the evidence points before you commit to the cost of a full written report.
Do I need to attend in person?
No. The process starts with a review of your submitted reports, and the opinion can be delivered by phone or as a written report.
How long does a written report take?
Typically 10–14 business days, depending on the complexity of the matter. The clock starts once the instructions, documents and payment are all in, rather than at first enquiry.
Urgent matters are frequently completed sooner. Tell us your court date at the outset — availability is confirmed against your deadline, not after the fact.
Can the report be used in court?
Yes. Reports are prepared to be objective and scientifically robust, written for clarity, and designed to withstand judicial and scientific scrutiny.
Don't leave it until the last minute
Expert calendars fill quickly, and court dates do not move to suit them. Secure your consultation or report early.