Another suspect package found at Australian parliament as security tightened

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2005

CANBERRA (AFP) — A suspicious package was intercepted at Australia's Parliament House, the fourth security scare involving mail posted to the building, authorities said.

Parliamentary speaker David Hawker told the House of Representatives that the package was found in the parliamentary mailroom on Tuesday morning.

He did not specify the nature of the package but said another three letters that sparked security measures over the past two weeks had contained white powder that proved to be harmless.

Hawker said he had ordered procedures for handling parliamentary mail to be tightened and advised political staffers to be on the lookout for suspicious mail.

"I strongly condemn the behaviour that has made this a necessity," he said.

Last week the...