Violent youth offenders treated to Gold Coast theme park trip as part of rehabilitation program

Violent youth offenders have been treated to a trip to Gold Coast theme parks as part of their rehabilitation program.

Violent thugs have been treated to a trip to Gold Coast theme parks as part of their rehabilitation.

The Herald Sun understands at least two serious youth offenders have been flown to Queensland to visit theme parks there with the outings allowed while serving their community corrections orders.

The boys, aged in their teens, are understood to have been convicted of home invasions and carjackings.

The outings were allowed under the Community Correction Orders. Picture: Supplied

When questioned about the trips by the Herald Sun, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the decision to greenlight the outings had not been made by her government.

“I want to be clear that in this matter that is being reported today, that there has been advice that there has been no youth justice officials involved in and accompanying these young people,” Ms Allan said on Monday.

“And given that this was a decision that has been taken through the corrections process, I’m not in a position to comment on the circumstances that led to this decision.”

It is understood, however, that Victoria’s Department of Justice and Community Safety was aware of the decision.

A state government spokesperson directed questions from the Herald Sun to the courts, saying the decision could have been made by a magistrate or judge.

The Herald Sun understands funding may have been provided by the federal government through the NDIS to partially or fully pay for the trips.

Jacinta Allan said the decision was not made by her government. Picture: Nigel Hallett

NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister said the claims were being investigated by the National Disability Insurance Agency.

“The government and the NDIS remain focused on shutting down unscrupulous behaviour in the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” she said.

“This includes a 10-month crackdown on unscrupulous behaviour in the Short Term Respite sector which reduced claims by 47 per cent.”

Ms McAllister said updated guidelines recommend that short term respite breaks occur in a participant’s home state and “cannot be used to pay for items that are not NDIS supports, such as holiday accommodation, tickets, entry fees to entertainment events, or accommodation” to attend an event.

Opposition Leader Brad Battin slammed the decision, saying that youth offenders were learning “if I go and commit a crime, I can go off to France, or I can go up to the Gold Coast to the theme parks”.

“Where is the message to kids to say that crime doesn’t pay here in Victoria?” he said.

Mr Battin said that sending the offenders on “a family holiday” would make no difference to their rehabilitation.

“If you want to break the nexus, then you bring in the Youthstart program that we want to bring in to ensure we can give the kids the services they need.”

The revelation comes little more than a month after the Herald Sun revealed a 15-year-old accused of five armed robberies, stealing cars and making threats to kill was allowed to travel to Europe with his family.

A magistrate gave the family vacation the tick of approval after the court was told the boy’s parents would have to cancel the overseas family holiday if he was refused bail or put under usual bail conditions.

‘Absolutely ridiculous’

Outraged home invasion and carjacking victims told the Herald Sun the move was a “slap in the face” to Victorians left traumatised by youth crime.

Kat Mansfield, whose family home was invaded by youth thugs, called the rehabilitation measure “absolutely ridiculous”.

“I’m speechless,” she said.

Ms Mansfield said her eight year old son still struggles to sleep at night after a group of teenagers armed with a machete entered their Armadale home, snatching car keys before taking off in their luxury car.

“It stays with you,” she said.

“This is a slap in the face to all victims.”

Adele Andrews, whose Bayside home was raided by machete-wielding thugs, said she had “never heard anything more ludicrous” as she questioned how this could have been allowed.

“They’ve effectively rewarded their behaviour,” she said.

“This is not exactly a deterrent is it.”

Another home invasion victim, Lisa, said the fact the youth thugs were allowed to travel to theme parks was “disgusting”.

“Some kids do everything right and still aren’t able to go to theme parks in Queensland,” she said.

“They should be able to pay for what they have done.”

Originally published as Violent youth offenders treated to Gold Coast theme park trip as part of rehabilitation program