Brian Edwards starts on February 27 as the state's new change-management director.

Under a two-year contract, he will be paid $239,876 each year.

It also cost the government about $36,500 to find him after an international search.

Corrections Minister Nick McKim announced the appointment yesterday - seven months after the $488,000 Palmer report exposed serious flaws in the system and recommended an overhaul.

``Mr Edwards has demonstrated expertise in turning around difficult or problematic prisons and I back him 100 per cent,'' Mr McKim said.

``There were a lot of people calling for a quick process, but we held our ground and we made sure that we ran through an appropriate process that gave us the best chance to get the best possible candidate, and I think that's what we've done.''

Mr Edwards is still overseas and was unavailable for comment yesterday.

He has 35 years experience working in the UK prison system, and has worked as a consultant in corrections since 2006.

Mr McKim said work had already begun on most of the 38 recommendations of the Palmer report.

``We've successfully implemented a number of those recommendations, others are a work in progress and some have been delayed as we thought it appropriate to wait on a change manage,'' he said.

Action had also been taken in response to specific issues, which included an escape by prisoners, inmates taking staff hostage and a workers' strike.

Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Tom Lynch said it had been a long and frustrating process since the Palmer report was handed down on June 15.

``We've got inmates that effectively have nothing to do - that's the biggest problem at Risdon (prison) and that's the thing that needs to be addressed,'' Mr Lynch said.

Mr Edwards will report to the new prison services director, who is yet to be appointed since Graeme Barber retired in November. Robert Williams is acting in that role.

Mr McKim confirmed that he yesterday received a report into last month's escape involving two prisoners. However, he said that the report would not be made public as releasing such detail could compromise security.