1500 digital TVs for South Australia's prisoners

A customer studies an array of flat-screen televisions Source: AFP

Opposition Corrections spokesman Terry Stephens said public money should not be wasted on prisoners at a time when Keith Hospital could not afford to stay open.

He said prisoners should be required to provide their own televisions as they had in the past - a policy the tender has described as inefficient because it complicated cell searches for drugs and other banned items.

"If they want flat-screen televisions, they're going to have to save and pay for it themselves," he said.  "There are plenty of people in the community who pay taxes who can't afford flat-screen televisions at the moment." 

But the Government says the 1500 TV sets would not be free as the cost will be "neutralised" because prisoners rent the sets.

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A recent Department of Correctional Services tender called for digital-quality television sets to be connected in each prison cell in South Australia, including the Adelaide Remand Centre, Yatala Labour Prison and the Cadell Training Centre.

"The Liberal Party was briefed on this some time ago and actually saw an example of the TV and had absolutely no complaints, this is a hysterical response trying to raise the anxieties of people and the prisoners who are an easy target," Correctional Services Minister Tom Koutsantonis said.

"This also has to happen because of the fact that the analogue signal is being switched over to digital."

"Essentially this is a measure that enhances security in our prisons," Mr Koutsantonis said.

"These TVs will be made out of clear plastic and will therefore be much harder for prisoners to hide contraband and other materials in the TV, which is currently the case with the tube TVs.

"It will be a user pay system, every prisoner will have to pay and it won't be their property, it will still be owned by Correctional Service officers so this is all cost recoverable."

Where the TVs will go

Yatala Labour Prison will receive the most television sets, totalling 360, while the Mobilong and Pt Augusta prisons will get more than 200 sets each.

The Adelaide Remand Centre will receive 170 sets, with the Adelaide Women's Prison, Cadell Training Centre and Mt Gambier Prison all getting more than 100 each.

The Adelaide Pre-Release Centre and Pt Lincoln Prison will also score 60 and 90 sets respectively.