Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles rejected criticism of the controversial changes as a knee-jerk reaction, saying an “opportunity” arose to reveal them.
Palaszczuk had in October said the government was looking at expanding its number of youth prisons to four, with $500 million on the table for a new site in Cairns. On Thursday, she said another would also be built in the south-east.
A 2019 Youth Justice Department survey found 60 per cent of young offenders had been affected by domestic violence, 46 per cent had a diagnosed or suspected mental health or behavioural disorder, and 29 per cent were in unstable or unsuitable housing.
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