It was a mistake to release a teenage criminal early from youth detention, Victorian Premier John Brumby said after the teenager allegedly terrorised Melbourne's sporting precinct armed with a firearm.
David Paul Rowntree, 19, remains on the loose after a massive manhunt forced a three-hour lockdown of the MCG precinct on Monday.
Rowntree is considered extremely dangerous and is wanted over a string of alleged burglaries and an armed robbery that led to a high-speed police pursuit along a Melbourne freeway.
The gunman was released from youth detention in March, despite serving only a third of his three-year sentence.
Mr Brumby said the parole board had erred in its decision to release Rowntree early.
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"They took the view that he was ready for release and they let him out after 12 months, obviously the judgment, I think, was misplaced and he's reoffended," Mr Brumby told Fairfax Radio.
"The person concerned is dangerous, police have got a very large contingent out looking for him and they obviously hope to apprehend him at the earliest opportunity."
Mr Brumby said he was expecting a report on why Rowntree was granted early release.
"There is a parole board, it is made up of experienced people, typically some of them (are) former judges, former police officers, those sort of people.
"They act independently of government and I guess overwhelmingly they get it right but sometimes they get it wrong and obviously in this case they got it wrong."
