A female worker at Melbourne Airport was suspended after conducting a security screening on Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

The incident occurred on September 22 as Ms Bishop cleared security in Melbourne on her way to New York for the United Nations leader's summit.

Julie Bishop at Canberra Airport earlier this year. Credit:Andrew Meares

The worker, employed by airport security contractor ISS, was stood down from work for "not adhering to standard security screening procedures", Melbourne Airport said in a statement.

Specifically, her request to scan Ms Bishop was not random, Fairfax Media has learned, and may well have been prompted by a co-worker who recognised the Foreign Minister and deputy Liberal leader.