Minister kept quiet about trip

THE FRESHLY-MINTED youth justice minister has made a secret trip north, despite ignoring questions from the Bulletin about when she will visit the region.

Youth Justice and Child Safety Minister

Leanne Linard ( pictured) has ignored questions from the Townsville Bulletin about when she will head north after multiple Katter’s Australian Party members questioned when she would head to Townsville.

Traeger MP Robbie Katter said Ms Linard should be in the North “every other week” until the region’s “unrelenting crisis” is under control.

He expected a “pretty comprehensive” plan to combat crime ready to be rolled out.

KAP’S Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said the minister “must intervene directly” in operations at the centre before a riot breaks out.

Ms Linard, Member for Nudgee, was appointed the new minister after Premier Annastasia Palaszczuk’s cabinet shuffle, which pushed the former minister, Di Farmer, into the Department of Employment, Small Business, Training and Skills Development.

The Bulletin contacted Ms Linard’s office on November 18 about the possibility of coming north, her future plans to address the issues at CYDC and whether she would consider another operational review at the centre.

Her department never responded, despite multiple attempts to follow up with staff.

On Thursday, Townsville MP Scott Stewart said he recently met with Ms Linard in

Townsville, where they met with police, CYDC staff, and frontline child safety and youth justice workers.

Ms Linard did not alert the media about her trip last week, despite the recent spate of issues at CYDC appearing in the spotlight and causing concern among the community.