A future Liberal National Party government would introduce harsh youth justice measures, echoing a Newman government policy, including removing the principle of detention as a last resort for young offenders after their second offence, and giving courts the ability to name and shame an offender after their third offence.

That meant children as young as 10 could be named, a public shaming that would follow them into adulthood.

Shadow Attorney-General Ian Walker announced the LNP plan in Townsville on Friday, where he said people had to "cop the brunt" of Labor's youth justice policies.

But Queensland Law Society immediate past president Bill Potts said naming and shaming children who were often vulnerable, victims of family violence, from homes with drug abuse and mental illness, or born with fetal alcohol syndrome would do nothing to address the causes of criminal behaviour.

"Policies that sound tough are not substitute for policies that are tough," Mr Potts said.

"Children being children don't think ahead, and the reality is it [naming and shaming] does nothing to deter or assist in reducing their criminal activity.

"If we don't address the poverty and the issues of family violence that have caused them to behave this way, ultimately we would continue to fail our children."

Mr Potts said children as young as 10 could not possibly imagine what impact their offending would have on their future.

"The trouble is, it's complex, it's not simple, it's not something that can be reduced to a law and order slogan at election time, it's something that requires commitment, energy and compassionate tough love," he said.

Mr Potts said the QLS would want to see the detail of the proposed legislation and it supported evidence-based legislation.

Youth Affairs Network Queensland director Siyavash Doostkhah said naming and shaming would sentence young people to a life of crime by denying them education and work prospects in the future.

"We're manufacturing criminals... pushing young people towards becoming career criminals, as opposed to providing options to them to take their rightful place in society," Mr Doostkhah said.

Mr Doostkhah said more money should be spent on intervention instead of punishment, as children did not react positively to punitive measures, and instead needed to be given options to turn their lives around.

However, the LNP said crime, particularly youth crime, was out of control.

They pointed to overall crime statistics that included car theft increasing by 18.2 per cent in Townsville, and unlawful entry increasing by 15.2 per cent on the Gold Coast.

On the other hand, Labor pointed to statistics which showed the number of offences by young people had decreased by 12 per cent in Townsville in the past year.

The Children's Court annual report shows there were 3742 juveniles dealt with in all courts in 2015-16, including charges that were proven, dismissed or withdrawn, a 0.9 per cent increase on the previous year.

There was a decrease in the number of charges against juveniles by 0.4 per cent.

Meanwhile, Queensland's population is increasing at 1.5 per cent per year.

Both major parties are desperate to win seats in regional areas like Townsville, and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was also in the city on Friday morning for a sod turning at the $250 million north Queensland stadium.

Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath accused the LNP of using youth justice to score political points and recycling old policies.

"We recognise the best way to tackle these issues with young people is to implement evidence-based policies, turn their lives around, stop re-offending and to build stronger communities," she said.

Ms D'Ath said detention as a last resort was applied by all jurisdictions in Australia and was a convention recognised by the United Nations.

But Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said Labor's policies had resulted in a revolving door of justice where young criminals were running riot on the streets without any fear of repercussions.

"The LNP will make no apologies for being tough on youth crime," Mr Nicholls said.

Mr Walker said the Palaszczuk government was putting the interests of young thugs ahead of families to secure votes with the "inner-city bleeding heart brigade".