Tasmanian inmate locked up hours after release due to prison bungle

A Tasmanian inmate's freedom was short-lived after he was locked up only hours after his release on Monday when authorities realised they had made a big mistake.

Damien Harris, 40, is once again serving a multi-year sentence for the armed robbery of a Hobart video store in 2013, The Examiner reports.

He was not due to be released until April 7, 2017, and an investigation into the bungle has now been launched.

"All necessary steps will be undertaken to ensure that this cannot happen again," a justice department spokesman said yesterday.

Harris was arrested at a Centrelink just hours after his release and returned to his cell at Ridson Prison.

The error has angered Harris's ill and elderly father, Percy Harris, who flew from Western Australia to be with son after receiving a letter informing him of his imminent release.

Mr Harris, who only has 25 percent of his lungs, fears he may not have much time left and wanted to be with his son at the first available opportunity.

"I thought at least I'll get to see him before I go. And then this happened," he said.

"It's a big balls up."

Mr Harris added that other relatives have had to cancel plans to travel to Tasmania.

"They're not going to get their money back," he said.