Scares could be linked to Corby says Downer

CANBERRA - A package containing white powder sent to Australia's Parliament House and a package that sparked a major terror scare at the Indonesian embassy could be linked to the Schapelle Corby case, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

Commonsense pointed to a connection between the two packages and anger over Corby's 20-year jail term for drug smuggling in Bali, he said.

Asked if there was a connection between the two packages of white powder and Corby, Mr Downer told the Nine Network: "There could be, yes, there could be.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure, of course, as is the case with the package that was sent to the Indonesian embassy.

"But the two packages could be connected with each other and they could be connected with the Corby case.

"Commonsense leads you to conclude that these incidents are connected with that case."

Indonesia's Canberra embassy was locked down on Wednesday after the delivery of a threatening letter containing white powder, while a package containing white powder addressed to Mr Downer forced officials to isolate mail room staff at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday.

Mr Downer said police had some indication about where the package sent to him had come from but he wouldn't elaborate.

- AAP