Australian police say suspicious packages have been delivered to consulates and Embassies in Canberra and Melbourne.

Parcels were delivered to the Melbourne consulates and embassies for the UK, US, Germany, India, New Zealand, Korea, Greece, Egypt and Switzerland.

The Victoria Emergency website said Melbourne's Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) sent vans to reports of "hazardous material" at 16 sites.

A number of consulates have been evacuated in the city.

BREAKING: Police and emergency services have responded to suspicious packages to embassies and consulates in ACT & VIC today (Wednesday, 9 January 2019). The packages are being examined by attending emergency services. The circumstances are being investigated.

— AFP (@AusFedPolice) January 9, 2019

Consulates in the Australian capital of Canberra also received the packages, police said.

An Australian Federal Police spokesman said: "Police and emergency services have responded to suspicious packages delivered to Embassies and Consulates in Canberra and Melbourne today.

"The circumstances surrounding the incidents are being investigated."

He said the packages are being examined by attending emergency services.

An MFB spokeswoman said: "We are assisting the Australian Federal Police right now with a number of incidents across Melbourne.”

"We are assisting at a number of embassies across Melbourne."

MFB is assisting the Australian Federal Police at a number of incidents at embassies across Melbourne. Further information will be provided by the AFP when it becomes available.

— MFB (@MFB_NEWS) January 9, 2019

Melbourne’s foreign consulates are largely based on St Kilda Road and in the city centre.

It comes after a suspicious package containing white power was discovered at the Argentine consulate in Sydney on Monday.