DFAT suspicious package non-threatening

A Canberra public servant has been left red-faced after accidentally prompting a bomb scare at the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters.

But police say they erred on the side of caution amid heightened concerns following the deadly siege in Sydney.

A federal police bomb squad was called to the department's Barton premises in Canberra on Tuesday afternoon to investigate reports of a suspicious package.

The package was discovered to be a bag accidentally left unattended near the canteen by a staff member.

An evacuation left hundreds of staff scattered around the building while tests were conducted and surrounding roads were blocked off.

ACT Policing said it was natural for people to be jittery after the death of two hostages and an armed gunman at a cafe in Martin Place, Sydney, that day.

"There's obviously concern given what's happened in the last 24 hours," Sergeant Donna Hofmeier told reporters in Canberra.

"But we need to continue with all our standard procedures ... and it's for the best outcome."

All suspicious package reports were taken seriously, Sargent Hofmeier said.

The backpack's owner was "extremely embarrassed" by inadvertently prompting the scare, she said.