In Queensland, prisoners now pay 20 cents per minute to make a phone call.

That’s $2.40 for a short 10-minute chat — the same call that (prior to November 2025) cost just 30 cents total.

That is a 800% increase in cost.

This is not about discipline. This is about disconnecting people who are trying to rebuild their lives.

We, the undersigned, urge the Corrective Services Commissioner, Minister for Corrective Services, and other relevant authorities to reconsider the recent change in the cost structure for phone calls from Queensland prisons. The adjustment from $0.30 to $2.40 (per 10-minute call) has resulted in significant financial and emotional hardship for inmates and their loved ones.  

Consistent, affordable phone contact is a lifeline for inmates, strengthening family bonds and reducing re-offending. The previous $0.03/minute rate made this possible. The new $2.40/10-minute charge is an unaffordable financial barrier, leading to increased isolation, family suffering, and poorer mental health outcomes for incarcerated individuals.

Queensland Corrective Services themselves state that;

“Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) values keeping inmates connected to their families as part of their rehabilitation and reintegration strategy. This is supported through various programs and policies, such as providing phone and video call access"

Increasing phone call costs is a direct and contradictory measure. It makes regular contact difficult, often near impossible, undermining the stated value of keeping inmates connected for rehabilitation.

In Summary:

• Financial Hardship: The $2.40/10-minute rate is a substantial increase, forcing economically struggling families to choose between essential expenses and maintaining vital contact.
• Reduced Communication & Mental Health Impact: Increased costs will inevitably reduce calls, exacerbating isolation, and increasing loneliness, anxiety, and depression among inmates.
• Undermined Rehabilitation: Limiting affordable contact undercuts the proven role of strong family support in reducing recidivism and improving rehabilitation success.
• Adverse Effect on Children: The cost increase disproportionately harms children with incarcerated parents, who risk losing meaningful connections crucial for their emotional and social development.

Our Request: 

We respectfully request that the Queensland Corrective Services Commissioner, Queensland Minister of Corrective Services, and all relevant decision-makers:

1. Review and reverse the recent cost increase for prison phone calls.
2. Ensure that phone call rates remain affordable and accessible to all inmates and their families, regardless of financial circumstance.
3. Consult with stakeholders—including inmates, families, and advocacy groups—to develop a fair communication policy that prioritizes rehabilitation and family unity, rather than profit.

Conclusion:

Affordable phone calls are essential for the well-being of inmates and their families. The recent price hike creates unnecessary barriers to communication with long-lasting negative consequences for individuals and the community. We urge you to act now to restore reasonable rates and protect this critical lifeline. Affordable phone calls mean stronger families, and stronger families mean safer communities.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Orchestrated and Written by Charles Coombs & Georgia Crabb.

Sign this petition to demand change. 

Let’s end the exploitation of prison phone calls and bring humanity back into the Queensland Prison System.