An artist impression of the kitchen facility at Risdon Prison. (Tasmanian government)
The Tasmanian government is hoping to recover more than $1 million spent on food for the Risdon Prison population after its new kitchen was closed due to a "slip hazard".
Corrections Minister Guy Barnett says the department would be pursuing the kitchen contractor for the costs, but Labor has questioned whether the government would be able to recover the money at all.
Mr Barnett says the kitchen is expected to reopen mid-September, and that he is "frustrated at the delay".
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.
