As a result of some high prices, and extremely low salaries, incarcerated Australians are struggling to afford the essential items they need.
In Australia, each state and territory runs canteens, or "buy-up" programs, that allow prisoners to purchase items not provided by prison management. Many of these items are essentials, like toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner. Prisoners also have the option to purchase more discretionary items like chocolates and soft drinks.
Prisoner rights advocates say the system forces incarcerated people to rely on outside financial help, putting additional pressure on already vulnerable and often impoverished families struggling financially while their loved ones are in custody.
The system forces incarcerated people to rely on outside financial help, putting additional pressure on already vulnerable and often impoverished families
"The cost of living inside prison is getting unacceptably high. The cost of getting these goods in prisons shouldn't be used as a money-making exercise," says Abigail Lewis, senior policy advisor at Vacro, a Victorian not-for-profit who supports people who have been incarcerated.
"These are some of the most socially and economically marginalised people in our state, people that have lived through a great deal of trauma, and people whose families and communities are really doing it tough on the outside. They should not be seeking to make a profit off them," she says.
Profiting off prisoners
Prisoners are often given the opportunity to work while in prison, however the wages they are paid are so low that their purchasing power is minimal.
A former prisoner showed CHOICE documents outlining the wages they were paid as a working prisoner in Victoria. They ranged from a low of $6.95 per day to a maximum of $9.60 per day depending on the job.
It is difficult to obtain price lists for goods sold inside prisons, but a publicly available document from Queensland Corrective Services says prices are regularly adjusted in the state and that they include a 5% profit margin on the goods being sold.
It affects our kids because we can't call them, or they have to send money in and they suffer
Kelly Flanagan, formerly incarcerated person
It's a point of contention for advocates.
"The system shouldn't have profitability built into it. They are state-run prisons, and Queensland has no private prisons. We fought for a very long time for that," says Debbie Kilroy, founder of Sisters Inside.
"The costing (of buy-up items) should be the same cost as what we pay for out here, not where someone else is making a profit, and that is the state or in this case, corrective services.
Corrective Services New South Wales declined to provide CHOICE with a price list of essential items inside prisons citing "commercial in confidence" reasons.Victoria likewise declined to provide a full list of goods. However, CHOICE has obtained a canteen list from the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, a maximum security women's prison, dated 29th of January 2024.
It showed the cost of a 100g tube of Rapid Relief Sensodyne toothpaste was $9.95 (the same product was for sale at Chemist Warehouse for $7.29 in June 2025 and at Coles for $12.30). Dermaveen Gentle Wash 500ml was for sale in the prison for $14.30, whereas the same product was on sale this year at Coles for $12 and listed as $20 at full price.
Some other items appeared to be at or below retail value and many of the products on the canteen list didn't include sizes or brand names, making comparisons difficult.
Exterior of Roebourne regional prison in Western Australia.
Impact on communities
Former prisoner Kelly Flanagan knows what it is like to be on the inside and to have to make tough decisions about what you can afford. Along with purchasing essential items, prisoners also have to pay exorbitantly high rates for prison phone calls to contact family and loved ones on the outside.
"If you have to buy these things, the first thing that is impacted is being able to afford to contact your family," she says.
"The fact that corrections can profit off the most under-privileged population in society makes me sick, the business that they are operating makes me sick, it affects our kids because we can't call them, or they have to send money in and they suffer," she adds.
Prison officer speaks out
Andrew* has been working at a prison in Sydney for Corrective Services NSW for years.
He says he was initially surprised at how little was provided to the prisoners.
"What I was surprised about is that things that are essentials aren't provided. Shampoo and soap are essential, not everyone can afford stuff, it is really surprising that things aren't provided," he tells CHOICE.
"I do know that stuff is overpriced, I know there would be a lot of inmates going without essentials. The other thing is not all prisons have jobs available for them to work, so even if they want the hours, not everyone can get them," he adds.
What I was surprised about is that things that are essentials aren't provided
Andrew*, former employee of Corrective Services NSW
In NSW providing goods to the buy-ups is a big business.
Government tender records show that a three-year contract for $11.3 million was awarded to Sweetie Confectionery PTY Limited in May 2022 to provide buy-up services to 36 prisons across the state.
Another publicly available tender document shows companies such as Metcash Food and Grocery Convenience and Asahi Beverages also being awarded state government funds the same year to provide buy-up services, though the amount of those contracts was not disclosed.
With so much money in government contracts splashing around and so little information about pricing, advocates say reform is sorely needed.
"You want to lock someone up and then make profit off the backs of them. It's treating people like they're just commodities," Debbie Kilroy says.
*Not his real name
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