Labor senator calls for probe into Julie Bishop security incident

A Labor senator is calling for Julie Bishop to be investigated over suspicions the foreign minister may have mislead the Upper House over a security incident that ended in the sacking of a Melbourne airport worker.

Tasmanian Labor Senator Catryna Bilyk has accused Ms Bishop of giving "false and misleading evidence" after her version of events – that there was no such incident – appeared to be contradicted by Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss's office.

The Nationals leader's staff contacted Melbourne Airport to express concern over the targeted stop-and-search of Ms Bishop, which was found to have breached security protocols, as Fairfax Media reported last week.

"Has the Foreign Minister ever been involved in any incidents, altercations or complaints relating to directions to subject herself to security screening at Australian ports, in relation to body scanners or other devices or procedures?" Senator Bilyk asked the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade late last month.

"No," came the response, apparently totally at odds with Mr Truss's "informal notification" regarding the September 22 incident.

Three airport staff were suspended over the security screening, which was judged to be "not random", while a fourth employee of ISS, a security contractor, was let go.

"I draw your attention to a possible contempt of the Senate relating to the giving of false and misleading evidence to foreign affairs, defence and trade committee," Ms Bilyk wrote in a letter to Liberal Senator Chris Back.

"It is a matter of great concern to me that no correction, or explanation, has been submitted to the committee by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in relation to this matter."

Neither DFAT nor Ms Bishop have commented on the matter.