Concerns raised in Queensland parliament over youth rehabilitation provider's social media

Concerns about the social media conduct of a publicly funded youth rehabilitation provider have been raised in Queensland parliament.

The Yabun Panjoo Aboriginal Corporation is one of nine service providers contracted to deliver the Crisafulli government's $50 million regional reset program.

It was tasked with providing a 12-month intensive rehabilitation program for at-risk young people, some as young as eight, in Townsville and Mount Isa.

The corporation received $1.43 million last year to deliver the program in each service location, over four years.

The Labor spokeswoman for Youth Justice, Di Farmer, questioned whether the taxpayer-funded provider's social media use was appropriate, during parliamentary budget estimates.

"The Yabun Panjoo Facebook page follows twelve people," she said.

"About 70 per cent of them are adult content creators, including OnlyFans creators."

"Is it appropriate that taxpayer-funded contractors who work with troubled young people almost exclusively follow profiles promoting adult content?"

Ms Farmer later withdrew the question.

Youth Justice Minister Laura Gerber said providers of the government's early intervention program were delivering.

"They're there to be able to deliver a reset to youth that otherwise would be following down a life of crime," she said.

The director of Yabun Panjoo, David Boye, was contacted for comment.

The Department of Youth Justice's director-general, Michael Drane, said suppliers must comply with the department's social media code of conduct.

Questions over government's rehabilitation programs

The heated budget estimates hearing continued into this evening with questions about the delivery of the government's youth rehabilitation programs, including the canning of a previous provider.

The Mara Way was contracted to deliver an early-intervention program in Mareeba in Far North Queensland, but had its funding pulled last month.

Speaking to the ABC in June, the organisation's chief executive Crystal Williams said it was meeting its obligations, but the terms set by the Youth Justice Department were unworkable.

Ms Farmer questioned Mr Drane over the funding cancellation.

"I would submit that if The Mara Way were unclear about the commitment, then they shouldn't have executed the contract," he said.

"The Department remains clear that they failed to execute the requirements under the contract that they were funded to deliver."

Ms Farmer asked if the same degree of monitoring was being applied to Yabun Panjoo Aboriginal Corporation.

"Yes, it is the case that the Department routinely monitors the performance and delivery of all contracted service providers," Mr Drane said.

"There are some 61 organisations delivering over 105 services funded by the Department of Youth Justice and further grant providers."

"Their performance is routinely monitored."

Queensland parliamentary budget estimates will continue next week.