The Premier has announced a raft of reforms targeting the youth crime crisis in Queensland, describing the move as "strong action".

But the Opposition says the changes are "dodging the critical issue" of making breach of bail an offence.

Annastacia Palaszczuk is introducing seven measures to stop repeat juvenile offenders as public outrage over a string of high-profile tragedies grows.

"Families have been shattered and lives have been lost," Ms Palaszczuk says.

"48 per cent of the youth crime in Queensland, is committed by just 10 per cent of criminals."

The changes include giving courts the power to order GPS trackers on recidivist high-risk offenders, aged 16 and 17, as a bail condition.

The trackers will be trialled in the Moreton, north Brisbane, Townsville, Logan and Gold Coast regions.

Under the plan, police on the Gold Coast will trial using metal detectors as a way to combat knife crime, anti-hooning laws will be strengthened and a parliamentary inquiry into remote engine immobilisers will be done.

Bail law changes don't go far enough

Custody will no longer be a last resort, but that is only for high-risk repeat offenders and certain offences, including breaking and entering, serious sexual assault and armed robbery.

"We are reversing the presumption of bail - courts will be empowered to require repeat offenders to give reasons why they should get bail, instead of requiring prosecutors to prove why they shouldn't."

But breach of bail will not be reintroduced as an offence, despite the LNP long calling for that to be the priority.

Opposition leader David Crisafulli says if it was an offence, it gives police the ability to intercept somebody before they "create the next wave of heartache".

"If a magistrate imposes bail conditions, and there is no repercussions for breaching them, why on earth would a young offender want to comply?

"That is the absurdity of the situation."

But Police Minister Mark Ryan is assuring the community high-risk offenders won't be released on bail.

"At the moment, they have a presumption of release and we are flipping that, they will be having to prove why they should be released.

"And if they can't prove to the court they won't be a further risk to community safety, they'll be held in detention."

Head of new taskforce

The former head of Queensland's anti-terror unit, Assistant Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon, has been appointed to head the new Youth Crime Taskforce.

Having a 33-year police career including many years in North Queensland and a background in child safety, Assistant Commissioner Scanlon has been described someone who will be "uncompromising" in cracking down on youth crime.

"I will ask the hard questions and I will want answers about what is happening for high risk youth," she says.

Former Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson will review the reforms in the next six months.

LISTEN: LNP leader David Crisafulli says some of the reforms are a step in the right direction but he wants to know why the ALP is refusing to reintroduce breach of bail as an offence - is it political?