The prisoners claim the absence of inflation-indexed pay is disrespectful. They currently earn between Aus$6.50 and Aus$8.95, but are after more.

A spokesman for the prisoner advocate group Justice Action said: “The wages paid are a lot less than in other states in Australia and it doesn’t meet their increasing costs.”

“There’s been a lack of any CPI (inflation) indexation, which has left them with less buying power.

“They feel resentful and that they haven’t been treated respectfully. This is a last act of desperation.”

Barwon jail has nearly 450 and is houses some of Victoria’s most dangerous crooks.