A Melbourne youth offender who was taken on a taxpayer-funded journey to the Gold Coast as part of a plan to deter him from a cycle of reoffending has been arrested again.
The teenager, now 18, was arrested and charged alongside four others over a spate of armed robberies and home invasions across Melbourne's south-east.
He was arrested in Highett last week and charged with armed robbery and unlawful assault against a delivery driver in Brighton on Christmas Day.
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Just a few months ago the teen, along with another youth offender, was flown to the Gold Coast to visit theme parks and go sightseeing to help with their criminal rehabilitation.
It is understood the teens had been convicted of violent home invasions and carjackings but were not jailed.
Victoria's Department of Justice and Community Safety gave the green light for the pair, amending their community corrections orders to allow them to travel to Queensland.
The National Disability and Insurance Agency is understood to have funded the trip, which sparked anger.
"We see that youth offenders don't think there's consequences for their actions. Why would they?" Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said.
"How does that stack up? How does that say their actions are not acceptable? It's not how our justice system should operate."
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