Bree's Barron River Bulletin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crime Crackdown Continues 

This month we welcomed several important announcements focused on strengthening community safety across our region. I know how frustrated our community is, especially as there is a small cohort of serious repeat youth offenders who continue to terrorise our streets. All of our efforts are targeted towards ensuring these serious repeat youth offenders are taken off our streets. 

 

Breach Bail, Go to Jail – We’re pushing for stronger measures, including breach bail = go to jail, to ensure repeat offenders face real consequences rather than being let off on bail by the magistrates even after multiple repeat offences.

 

Our Government has strengthened the law through Adult Crime, Adult Time reforms, and police are enforcing these measures. However, a loophole remains that must be closed.

 

If you support ending the revolving door of justice “Breach Bail, Go to Jail” please sign our petition here. 

 

To read more about what our government has done in our first 18 months to reduce crime, click here.

More police resources - We now have more police on the ground in Far North Queensland than ever before, alongside the introduction of POLAIR, a specialist police helicopter capability supporting our region. This aerial resource enhances frontline policing by assisting in the response to crime, including domestic and family violence matters, as well as critical search and rescue operations.

 

POLAIR plays a vital role in coordinated policing efforts, working seamlessly with ground officers to locate missing persons and respond rapidly in emergencies, and also help fight crime. This capability has supported significant operations, including searches for missing hikers and an 87-year-old woman who disappeared from Kewarra Beach on 9 May, using aerial surveillance and public announcement systems to assist in locating vulnerable individuals and engaging the community in real time.

 

The POLAIR helicopter is about more than policing crime it’s a vital community safety tool, supporting rescues, search operations, and keeping people safe when it matters most. Read more. 

 

Real action on the ground – Operation Forge has reached its halfway milestone after launching on 27 February, targeting the crimes causing the most harm in Queensland communities, including break-ins, robberies and stolen vehicles offences. 435 people, including 208 juveniles, have been charged 1,038 offences in the Far North District. 

 

The State Flying Squad has surpassed 150 deployments, charging more than 2,500 offenders with almost 7,800 offences across Queensland. Hotspot locations for the State Flying Squad have included 27 deployments to the Far North District.  

 

We’ve continued pushing for stronger laws, better resourcing, and smarter policing tools-however there is a long way to go to turn around a decade of inaction and weakening laws by the former government.  

 

Cairns Youth Justice School Announced

It was great to welcome the Minister for Youth Justice, Laura Gerber MP to the region to welcome Ohana for Youth to the Cairns community. Ohana for Youth will deliver the new Youth Justice School in the Cairns CBD, located in the old JCU building. This new Youth Justice School in Cairns will provide targeted education and rehabilitation for young offenders.

 

This means better pathways for at-risk youth to break the cycle of crime. 

 

This school is not a detention centre or place of punishment-these youth have done their time in detention. This facility is a court ordered school. A safe space to give them hope for a better future with adults and teachers that will mentor them for 12 hours a day 5 days a week.

There has been nothing like this in Queensland ever before. Read more. 

 

Tourism Icon Win in Caravonica

A big thing is coming to Barron River! 

 

The Crisafulli Government is supporting exciting new tourism attractions that will bring major “big icon” drawcards to Cairns through the Tourism Icon Investment Fund. This includes a set of “Big Paddles” that will sit outside our new Barron River Rafting Precinct, located at Lake Placid. 

 

The $677,000 commitment to Barron River Rafting will fund a range of new infrastructure and visitor improvements, including “The Big Paddles” tourism icon, upgraded visitor amenities and facilities, a new café and alfresco spaces, improved equipment storage, additional community green spaces and a flood-resilient Rafting Operations Centre at Lake Placid. This will take the existing rafting business to a whole new level by having a place to call home on the river and provide us with a tourism icon in our own backyard. 

 

I can’t wait to see this project come to life. Read more.  

Meet the Minister Events

I hosted two fantastic events this month, bringing Ministers together with young leaders and local businesses. 

 

I welcomed student leaders from across the Barron River electorate for a Youth Leadership Forum with the Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Youth. A huge thank you to the student leaders from Peace Lutheran College, Redlynch State College, Freshwater State School, Freshwater Christian College, Newman Catholic College, Holy Cross School and Smithfield State High School for attending. Students also heard from JCU leaders and a panel of guest speakers including Dr Sam Horseman from the JCU Ideas Lab, Barron River Youth Parliament representative Samuel Chesters, and Highly Commended Young Woman of the Year, Kyra Hourigan. Read more. 

 

Earlier this month we also celebrated Small Business Month with the Minister for Small Business visiting our region and meeting with several small and family business owners. I sincerely appreciate everyone who attended and shared their stories; small businesses are sure doing it tough out there.

 

That’s why I am launching my small business survey and starting my “Locals Back Locals” small business campaign. If you are a small business and you want to give me feedback, email barron.river@parliament.qld.gov.au and we will email you the survey link.

 

If you want one of our free small business packs, click here to register.  

 

Community Club Shout Out

Ivanhoes Rugby League Club is hosting a beautiful event to support a member recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The fundraising lunch will include lunch, bubbles, live music and special guest appearances. 

 

Pink Bow’s at Hoes Day will take place Saturday 20 June 2026, 11:30am - 3:00pm with tickets on sale from 1 June 2026. To learn more and book your tickets, please visit this link. 

 

A special shout-out to committee member Bree McCombie for organising this event. I hope to see everyone there. 

 

 

This month in Parliament, I celebrated small businesses, local legends and community wins including Marsh Butcheries who is celebrating 100 years of service, Freshwater Tennis Club on 70 years, Rainforestation Nature Park on 50 years this year, and Bransford’s Tackle Shop at Clifton Beach recently clocked up 32 years. 

 

I also touched on the recent Green Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, the Cairns Hospital expansions and the local communtiy members who are making a difference every day, including Barron River Youth Parliament representative Sam, local student Scarlett Jean and Redlynch State College students visiting Parliament - Kya, Holly, Grace and Audrey.  

 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office if you require anything. 

If you want to share any key issues or concerns, you have in our region click here or scan the QR code below. 

 

By sharing your feedback, you will automatically be entered into the draw to win a $250 Gift Voucher.