Parliament House on lockdown in Canberra

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Photo / AP

A lockdown of the ministerial wing of Parliament House has been ordered in Canberra following intelligence concerns the building may be a terrorist target.

Fairfax Media said late on Sunday night Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and Senate president Stephen Parry had issued the directive as well as an immediate ban on unaccompanied passes into the parliament.

The action comes after federal police on Friday replaced unarmed internal security officers both inside and outside the 250,000 square metre premises, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott explaining that it had been identified as a potential terror target through "chatter" intercepted by security agencies.

The Canberra Times reports the Department of Parliamentary Services has issued a memo explaining that the latest arrangements are a continuation of changes initiated when Mr Abbott raised national terrorism alert to high after a warning from ASIO chief David Irvine on September 12.

They effectively place ministers' offices in lockdown.

"Other than Members and Senators, only Ministerial Staff or those with both photographic passes and conducting business in the Ministerial Wing may access the area," the memo said.

All visitors also have to be escorted at all times and there will be no unaccompanied passes.

The instructions also call for visitors "wherever possible" to be directed to the public entrance.

Some traffic access to the building has also been cut off.