The Weatherill Labor Government's refusal to admit that it will not meet its "Recruit 300" election promise was ridiculed today in Parliament, with comparisons made to Monty Python's sketch in which the shopkeeper maintains that the dead parrot is alive despite all evidence to the contrary.

Prison overcrowding in South Australia has become so frequent that Police Commissioner Gary Burns has asked for reimbursement of costs borne by SA Police when police cells were used by Corrections to manage prison overcrowding.

Mr Burns told Parliament's Budget and Finance Committee this week that he has written to David Brown, the head of SA's Corrections Department, asking for reimbursement.

Yesterday's Budget and Finance Committee saw further evidence given that the Weatherill Government will not come anywhere near meeting its 'Recruit 300' police election promise.

Projected police numbers for 2017-18, provided by Police to the Committee, identify that there will be 4,421.1 sworn officers, plus 36 community constables, and 188 police cadets – a total of 4,645.1.

Shadow Minister for Police, Corrections and Justice John Gardner will travel extensively across the Riverland and Mallee during a two day tour of the region on March 10 and 11.

Hosted by Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone, Mr Gardner will meet with a number of community members, including local Neighbourhood Watch representatives and he will also speak with stakeholders around important issues within his Shadow portfolios, such as domestic violence.

The Department of Corrections Annual Report released yesterday has highlighted the possibility of infiltration of the Corrections Department "by criminal or extremist elements".

The Weatherill Government came under fire in Question Time today after revelations by Police Commissioner Gary Burns that the overflow of prisoners into police cells was starting “to impact on police operations”.