The Tasmanian government is hoping to recover the more than $1 million it has spent on food for the Risdon Prison population after its new $20 million kitchen’s floor was deemed too slippery to safely use.
The brand new “contemporary, fit-for-purpose” Risdon Prison kitchen opened in April.
Upon its completion, Corrections Minister Guy Barnett said he “looked forward to seeing the positive flow-on effects that will come from our investment into Tasmania’s corrections system”.
But just a few months later the kitchen was forced to close due to an issue “with the slip resistance of the flooring”.
The kitchen at Risdon Prison was only open for a few months before being closed due to a “slip hazard”. (Facebook: Madeleine Ogilvie)
In August, while closed, the kitchen and its builder Hansen Yuncken, were listed as finalists in the Master Builders Tasmania Awards for Excellence in the category of Work Health and Safety.
Risdon Prison kitchen and Hansen Yuncken were finalists for an award. (Instagram: masterbuilderstas)
The state government has confirmed Hansen Yuncken has accepted responsibility for the “slip hazard” and is rectifying the floor at its expense.
But the closure of the kitchen has meant the prison has had to source meals from elsewhere, including Victoria.
The average number of inmates at the Risdon Prison Complex was 841, between July 2025 and March 2026.
Labor understands approximately 3,000 meals per day have been flown in from Victoria.
Mr Barnett told parliament on Wednesday that “wherever possible local Tasmanian suppliers have been engaged with only one interstate provider used only where the required capacity and operational requirements could not be met locally”.
“Yes, we’re getting meals from the mainland but we’re also getting meals and support locally,” he said.
The state has so far spent $1 million on supplying the prison with food, sourced from both Tasmania and interstate. (
ABC News: Luke Bowden
)
In response to a question from Labor, Treasurer Eric Abetz confirmed the government has spent $1,035,072 on catering contracts in the past two months.
But the question as to who is on the hook to pay for that food remains.
Daily meals for Risdon inmates shipped from Victoria
Mr Barnett told reporters on Thursday the department would be pursuing Hansen Yuncken for the money.
“The contractor is responsible for the flow-on impact to the other consequences that flow,” he said.
“The advice I have is the department will be pursuing that directly consistent with the contract.”
Guy Barnett says the Department of Corrections would be pursuing the kitchen contractor for the $1 million spent on food. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
Labor spokesperson for Corrections and Rehabilitations Jen Butler questioned whether the government would be able to recover the money.
“The Liberals have indicated that they think the contractor should be responsible for covering the millions of dollars’ worth of emergency food required to fix the bungled $20 million kitchen upgrade,” Ms Butler said.
“Given this government’s track record for saying whatever it takes to get through a sticky situation, these assurances need to be taken with a grain of salt.
“With the contract details under wraps, it remains to be seen whether the contractor will foot the bill, or if the clean-up costs for this kitchen mess will add to the 13 years of Liberal waste Tasmanians are paying for.”
Jen Butler says the government’s assurances “should be taken with a grain of salt”. (ABC News)
Back in July, Mr Barnett said the kitchen would be open within a few weeks.
He has since revised that date to mid-September, saying he wants it done as soon as possible.
In parliament on Wednesday, Mr Barnett said he had requested an independent review from his department into the issue.
“I am frustrated at the delay to the kitchen becoming fully operational,” he said.
“I’ve made it clear to my department that I expect a full review of how this occurred and what will be done to prevent any similar contractor errors in the future.
“As this flooring issue is being fixed by the contractor, it’s my expectation that it is fixed to the proper standard to be fully and safely operational.”
Guy Barnett says he is “frustrated at the delay” and wants the kitchen to reopen as soon as possible. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)