$200 million in budget for child safety

Children at risk of domestic violence or harm from ice-using parents will be better protected under a state government plan to hire 300 child safety workers.

The Queensland government will spend an extra $200 million over four years to improve child safety, with a focus on domestic violence and ice addiction.

Under the plan announced by child safety and domestic violence prevention minister Shannon Fentiman about 300 extra child safety officers will be employed and will likely be sent to work in areas with heavy ice use.

Of the record spend, about $7.5 million will be used to help families harmed by ice addiction as about a third of children who needed protection in the past year had a parent who was using the drug ice.

The plan will save lives and provide better outcomes for families, child safety expert Professor Karen Healy said.