Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ordered an extraordinary overhaul of youth justice, setting up a new department to tackle the crisis after Four Corners revealed children as young as 10 were being held in maximum security adult watch houses in Queensland.

Key points: Youth Justice will be separated from the Child Safety portfolio in Queensland

Youth Justice will be separated from the Child Safety portfolio in Queensland The new department will use existing staff and there are no changes to ministerial responsibilities

The new department will use existing staff and there are no changes to ministerial responsibilities Deputy Police Commissioner Bob Gee will head the new department as its director-general

Ms Palaszczuk will separate Youth Justice from the Child Safety portfolio, for a more focused approach "with fresh eyes".

The department will be headed by Deputy Police Commissioner Bob Gee, as director-general.

The State Government had been under intense pressure since Four Corners exposed chronic overcrowding in youth detention centres was forcing children to be held in adult maximum security watch houses, some for more than a month.

Serious cases of child harm were revealed by the ABC, including a girl who was placed in a cell with two alleged male sex offenders and another girl whose finger was severed in a watch house door.

Other children who have been deemed at risk of self-harm are often placed inside padded isolation cells and put in so-called suicide smocks.

Ms Palaszczuk said the new department would use existing staff and there would be no changes to ministerial responsibilities.

She said she was determined not to waste a single dollar or another day.

"These issues cross a number of government responsibilities — police, courts, child safety and education," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"I want one person with one job — to coordinate and see these programs delivered.

"Bob Gee is the perfect person to get the job done.

"When it comes to marshalling resources and sending them where they're needed, Bob Gee has proven himself one of the best in the world."

'I'll lay it out for her slowly'

Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington tweeted shortly after the announcement.

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"OMG. @AnnastaciaMP just announced a new department to handle her youth justice crisis," Ms Frecklington tweeted.

"I'll lay it out for her slowly — get the kids out of the watch houses today."

Mr Gee said he was approached by the Premier's office about the new role on Thursday and will start work on Monday.

He said he wanted to see children out of watch houses "as soon as possible".

"It is very, very clear that we need to build new beds, but to think we can solve poverty, disadvantage — particularly in rural remote areas — is foolish," he said.

Mr Gee said he would work with parents, community and other agencies to develop medium and long-term plans for incarcerated children.

"There's no silver bullet," he said.

"We need to step back … tonight there's probably 250 to 270 children that need care and what we need to do is make a purposeful plan for each one of them.

"As a lifelong police officer, I know exactly what we are dealing with," he said.

"I applaud the Premier's leadership tackling this issue head-on."

Deputy Police Commissioner Bob Gee will head the new department as its director-general. ( ABC News: Tim Swanston )

Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women, Di Farmer, said she welcomed Mr Gee's appointment.

"As we have shown, tackling youth justice needs a coordinated and targeted approach and Bob is the perfect person to spearhead our initiatives," Ms Farmer said.

Ms Palaszczuk also acknowledged the public servants who had worked diligently over many years to achieve better outcomes for youth offenders, and who would continue to carry on the work under the new department.