Queensland now charges 20 cents per minute for prison phone calls, while NSW charges 25 cents for an entire call. This unfair, discriminatory pricing punishes families, harms rehabilitation, and disconnects inmates from the people who matter most. Sign this petition to demand fair, affordable call costs in Queensland prisons.

Staying connected with family is essential for rehabilitation — yet in Queensland, the cost of calling home has now become financially impossible for many.

As of 1 November 2025, all prison phone calls in Queensland — even local calls — cost 20 cents per minute.

For inmates earning between $3.55 and $7.00 per day, this cost is devastating.
A single 12-minute phone call can consume over half an inmate’s daily income.

This forces people in custody to choose between calling their children and purchasing basic necessities like shampoo, deodorant, or underwear. Those who cannot secure a job inside simply cannot afford to make calls at all.

This is not rehabilitation.
This is isolation.
It is financial hardship.
And it inflicts emotional harm on inmates and their families.

A Clear Inequality Between States

In September 2025, New South Wales introduced a new, fairer pricing model:
25 cents per call — regardless of whether it is a local or national number.

Meanwhile, Queensland inmates are charged almost the same amount every single minute.

How can two Australian states treat the same vulnerable population so differently?
How can one call cost 25 cents in NSW but $2.40 for the same 12-minute call in Queensland?

This inconsistency is discriminatory, unfair, and entirely disconnected from the principles of rehabilitation and human dignity.

Why This Matters

Phone contact is not a privilege — it is a critical part of rehabilitation, emotional well-being, and successful reintegration into society.

Research shows:

Regular family contact reduces reoffending

Connection improves mental health and behaviour in custody

Strong support networks reduce homelessness, unemployment, and relapse after release

Lower recidivism improves community safety and saves taxpayer money

When calls become unaffordable, family bonds weaken.
When bonds weaken, re-entry becomes harder.
When reintegration fails, the entire community feels the impact.

The Human Cost

Behind every prison phone call is a family trying to maintain hope.

A child waiting to hear their parent’s voice.
A partner giving emotional support.
A parent checking on their son or daughter’s well-being.

High call costs punish people who are already doing it tough — single parents, low-income families, people living week to week. They suffer financially so their loved one can stay emotionally afloat.

No one should have to choose between paying bills and hearing a loved one say, “I’m okay.”

What We Are Calling For

We urge the Queensland Government to:

1. Review and reduce prison call costs immediately

2. Align Queensland with the fairer model recently adopted in NSW

3. Ensure all inmates have equal access to affordable communication

4. Prioritise rehabilitation, fairness, and community safety

Fair access to communication is a basic human right and a fundamental part of a humane and effective justice system. Queensland must not fall behind.

CALL TO ACTION

Please sign this petition to demand that the Queensland Government review and reduce prison call costs. These changes affect families, children, mental health outcomes, rehabilitation, and community safety.

Every signature adds pressure.
Every voice matters.
Families are watching — and expecting fairness, dignity, and change.

Together, we can demand a prison communication system that supports rehabilitation instead of sabotaging it.