3 June 2005

White Powder Scare Parliament House

| che
Join the conversation
29

JB says he’s heard on the TV news that Parliamant House is under a white powder scare, and this time its not the Democrats. But as JB is in PH and has not seen or heard anything locally we’ll have to wait and see what the go is.

More to follow I’m sure.

[ED – All clear now, blossy has some interesting info in the comments below]

Join the conversation

29
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Ooh, thanks for the reminder L_G – way up the post I know, but I don’t hit this site often…

Hey guys !

I’ve finished working on the ‘command and conquer’ side of the lake, and am now working on the ‘Sim City’ side. Life over here is great and I don’t miss it one bit (the pay is better too) !

No more early mornings, lost weekends, unpaid overtime, people yelling at you cause you have a speck of dirt on your boots – heck I don’t even wear a uniform anymore. Hair is long – and nobody telling me off for that either…

Don’t listen to all that shite they feed you about not being able to do anything if you get out, it’s just standard brainwashing.

I hope that quells your concern about some chap in a black suit coming to visit me in a dark alley L_G. (I’m retired from all that now, but I still have some friends over there)

I still think that the white powder frenzy that the media has conveniently imposed on us needs to be rebelled against…

Well, that and Thumper and I want to commission the very first Lake BG Whale Watching tour, but that’s a different post…

As far as I can tell, the info was for the media – whose job it is to tell everyone.

Meh. I’m not bothered!

Thumper: I’d already left for the day. Happy hour was from 4 – 6. God Bless the DIMIA social club.

Well that’s where you’re wrong dude.

Free society means if it’s not specifically forbidden then it’s OK.

Sad for you I know.,

Worked in the joint for 2 years, JB. I have forgotten more about the place than you will ever know.

I think the mere phrase ‘Parliament House circular’ should point to the logical recipients…..people inside the House.

Authoritarian dogma?????? Jeezus you take yourself too seriously sometimes. If your going to have a dig make it worthwhile, topical and relevant, rather than some piss-ant attempt at sarcasm

For a man who has very obvously never seen a parliament house circular you’re astonishingly sure (and wrong) about their contents.

Which is par for the course with you far too often.

The whole world doesn’t (nor should it) function to your authoritarian dogma.

Loosen up dude.

Whatever. I’m sure the original e-mail from Ms. Penfold would have had the standard APS disclaimer at the bottom stating the ramifications of forwarding it on etc etc, particularly outside the House itself.

The legions of those employed within the House outside the APS still find themselves subject to certain security implications, those being the conditions of their employment. If you still don’t agree then I suggest the people who have been prosecuted or sacked in the past for doing same in the past were what, unlawfully dismissed?

It’s not the issue of the recipient, rather the sender who should know better, or at least paraphrase to save a potential problem

Canberra_unsung_hero11:47 am 04 Jun 05

…… and I repeat my original posting made yesterday —
No need to panic …. it’s just a powder puff for Alexander….. is all.

WHAT AN OVER-REACTION THE WHOLE THING WAS !

It wasn’t an internal email for me – I received it from someone else.

And I’m saying there are legions of people in Parliament House who are not emploiyed by the APS.

But JB the APS does have its own generic policy on it. From experience it pays to be very careful when quoting internal e-mails on a public site verbatim

Also I see I have been deservedly punished for forgetting the DIY wotz on guide….

VG – Parliament House is a copmplicated beast, there are at least 60 independent organisations within the walls, and no policies on “internal communication”

Watch the movie Rounders. As the main character says ‘poker is not gambling’. It is for a ‘fish’, but for the rest its not all about luck.

A fool and his money are soon parted. It is actually quite hilarious to see people come into the casino after watching poker on ESPN, think they know it all, and leave with empty pockets within the hour. Even if you don’t gamble it can be a fun exercise in people watching there, seeing mouthy, obnoxious drunks lose wads of cash

Casino is starting up $60 NLHE Sit ‘n go tables tonight if anyone is that way inclined. Kicks off at 1830

(NLHE = No Limit Texas Hold ’em, a form of poker, the stuff they play on Foxtel but, it isn’t as easy as they make it look)

I’ll be keeping it geeky with some EpIII once the kids are in bed. No drinks, gotta drive.

I’m sick of being a responsible individual!

And I could probably do with going straight home like a responsible individual for once…..

I’ve been trying to find someone to come to happy hour with me, but maybe I should mosey on up to the pot-belly!

Yep. And have no one to collect your child from child care and are stuck in a building with the air system turned off. Not fun.

LG is correct-a-mundo. I was caught up in the Southcare sand-mail debacle. Not much fun at all when you have to explain to people why we are being locked down and not evacuated.

I wouldn’t be saying that given that certain government agencies may use this website as a resource……. (also, you don’t get the day off, you get stuck in the building)

Who’s for ‘send your closest friend a package of white powder so they can get the day off work’ day ?

Perhaps… Nevertheless, part 3:

MEDIA RELEASE
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ALEXANDER DOWNER
June 3 2005

Media Statement

A suspicious package addressed to me was intercepted during routine security screening at Parliament House this morning.

The package contained white powder and has been taken away for testing. None of my staff, nor any Parliament Security staff came into contact with the contents of the package.

I appreciate the professional work of the Parliamentary Security staff and the police in handling this matter.

As I have said this week in relation to the incident involving the Indonesian Embassy, this type of intimidation is deplorable. The matter could be a serious criminal offence and it is best handled by the police.

someone obviously hasn’t read the departmental policy on the disclosure of work related e-mails to outside sources

Another update from that source peoples:

The ACT Fire Brigade is now clearing the Loading Dock area and the
Loading Dock will be reopening shortly.

Hilary Penfold

I received the following from a source within Parliament House:
>
At 9.05am today routine screening in the Parliament House loading dock
detected a suspicious package.

The package was addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade,
the Hon Alexander Downer. With the authorisation of the intended
recipient, the package was opened in a secure area and found to contain
a sealed plastic bag of white powder.

The substance was isolated in the Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) area of
the loading dock. Officers of the ACT Fire Brigade are in attendance and
are conducting incident response operations in accordance with their
procedures. The substance will be removed by the HAZMAT section of the
ACT Fire Brigade and taken to Canberra Hospital Pathology Section for
analysis.

The loading dock has not been contaminated, but will remain closed until
it is cleared to open by the ACT Fire Brigade. Nor has there been any
contamination of any other area within Parliament House.

The staff member who detected the suspicious package will be offered
counselling.

Hilary Penfold
Secretary, Department of Parliamentary Services
Chair, Security Management Board

Canberra_unsung_hero12:04 pm 03 Jun 05

No need to panic …. it’s just a powder puff for Alexander….. is all.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.