A prisoner escape in Western Australia has prompted an investigation, as a triangle of blame emerges between transport, police and prison authorities.

Two prisoners reportedly booted their way to freedom, kicking the doors out of a prison van at Geraldton airport.

The men remained at large for three days before they were found by police in bushland near the town of Mullewa.

The van the men escaped from was operated by prison contractor Serco, and Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis says the company should accept some responsibility and pay back the State Government for the extensive manhunt.

Mr Francis now says he has had an “open and frank” discussion with Serco CEO Mark Irwin and other representatives.

The Minister will meet with Serco again after an inquiry into the actual escape has been finalised.

The WA Prison Officers' Union and Police Union both believe Serco should lose its contract with the Department of Corrections, but the Transport Workers' Union has come out in defence of the employees.

“Normally, we wouldn't be commenting on security matters like this,” said Rick Burton from the Transport Workers' Union.

“People are coming down trying to blame individuals for an escape they had no control over, and we've got people trying to make some scores on the board, politically and otherwise.”

He says the Serco staff were only following departmental procedures at the time. And have been unfairly maligned in the wake of the escape.

Serco has also been criticised for the fees it charges for services above its contractual baseline. Recently this has included a $10,367 round-trip fee to transport one prisoner to a funeral.

The escapees from the incident in early January will now face several new charges.