Cairns youth detention centre petition launched by Mulgrave MP Terry James

Tensions within the LNP have re-emerged with a “backbencher” launching a petition to keep a youth detention centre out of his electorate.

Member for Mulgrave Terry James is opposed to a youth detention centre for young criminal offenders built in Edmonton, and was petitioning against the former government's plan to build in the Cairns southern suburbs at the Cairns Show. Picture: Brendan Radke

Tensions within the LNP have re-emerged with the Member for Mulgrave launching a petition to keep a youth detention centre out of his electorate as the state government consider where the facility will be built.

First-term MP Terry James revealed he hadn’t been included in the Youth Justice Minister’s consultation process over the controversial project, with Laura Gerber closely guarding the list of names she said had been involved in discussions.

But on Thursday, Ms Gerber shed some light on her list, saying it was with: “All the councillors, the Mayor, with the stakeholders, as well as the previous landholder that Labor conducted secret negotiations with.”

Division 1 councillor Brett Moller said he and Division 2 councillor Matt Tickner were among the strong opponents of a youth detention centre in the southern suburbs, particularly around growing urban areas.

Mr Moller said while he would welcome consulation on a site, he wasn’t aware of, or hadn’t been involved in, any discussions with Ms Gerber or the state government.

Queensland Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr James said he too hoped to one day be included in those negotiations, while in the meantime launching a petition on his website labelled “Stop Labor’s Youth Detention Centre in Edmonton”.

“No, I wasn’t part of any of that,” Mr James said when asked about Ms Gerber’s consultation process.

“I’m just a backbencher.

“Eventually we want to be part of those consultations, but I’m going to get in early to make sure it’s not happening in Edmonton,” he said, referring to his petition.

“There’s one announced somewhere in North Queensland.”

Mr James said the Far North “definitely” did need a youth detention centre built, but would not support one anywhere within the Mulgrave electorate.

“Mulgrave is a growing centre of Cairns,” he said.

“Mareeba is an option. I think (Cook MP) David Kempton is keen to see it up there, I think the local council is keen to see it up there.”

Member for Cairns Michael Healy and Shadow Minister for Youth Justice Di Farmer. Picture: Molly Frew

Cairns MP Michael Healy said his neighbouring member’s petition “made no sense”.

“We had the election, that stopped the detention centre. It’s not Labor’s detention centre anymore,” Mr Healy said.

“Terry James is part of the government. You don’t start a petition, you go talk to the minister and tell them what’s going on.

“Here we have a minister (Ms Gerber) telling us she’s consulting with people but the local member doesn’t even know what’s going on.”

Mr Healy said he would be drafting a question on notice to Ms Gerber, asking her to table the names of people she had consulted with and the dates.

It comes as Mr James last week swatted away rumours of retirement, while Mr Kempton told a business lunch at Mareeba his electorate would struggle to earn investments in the lead-up to the Olympics.
Mr Kempton and premier David Crisafulli this week toured the Cook electorate, spending Thursday night on Horn Island.

Originally published as Cairns youth detention centre petition launched by Mulgrave MP Terry James