Emergency sirens set off at Parliament House forcing dozens to evacuate

Close to one hundred people were left standing on the lawns of the nation’s most powerful building after emergency alarms set off.

The bizarre reason one hundred people were evacuated from the nation’s most powerful building has been revealed.

Witnesses reported being told to evacuate the Senate Wing at about 9am as messages blared over the PA system.

A thin fog of smoke hung over the building and the smell of burning rubber was also reported.

About a hundred people on the lawns of Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Emergency services on the scene with a haze of smoke on the horizon. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A Department of Parliamentary Services spokesperson said the smoke was caused by a fault in an air handling unit.

The failure created some smoke which then triggered the fire alarm, however, there was no fire.

Federal police officers and security were photographed at the scene as press worked to figure out what had caused the disruption.

The all clear was given by about 10am when people were able to return to Parliament.

Sirens were blaring about 9am. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Security on the lawns. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Originally published as Emergency sirens set off at Parliament House forcing dozens to evacuate