A French national was detained at Melbourne Airport carrying three cans of chemical mace and extremist material two days after the Paris terrorist attacks, Attorney-General George Brandis says.

Key points: Brandis confirms deportation of man found with mace, extremist material at Melbourne airport

Brandis confirms deportation of man found with mace, extremist material at Melbourne airport Man found with materials two days after Paris attacks

Man found with materials two days after Paris attacks Screening of European travellers has been stepped up at airports in wake of event

Screening of European travellers has been stepped up at airports in wake of event Australia's terror threat level remains at probable

Since then, the Federal Government has stepped up screening of European travellers, Mr Brandis confirmed.

"There was an intervention by Australian Border Force (ABF), including its counter-terrorism unit," Senator Brandis told AM.

"He was found to be in possession of prohibited goods, namely three cans of mace.

"His visa was revoked [and] he was held in detention and deported from Australia."

Senator Brandis said the French national was "in possession of prohibited goods, namely three cans of mace". ( Supplied )

A spokesman for the Immigration Minister Peter Dutton confirmed there had been closer scrutiny of visa applications and more counter-terrorism officers at airports.

Authorities are specifically targeting travellers from France and Belgium.

Senator Brandis said the Federal Government was taking the threat seriously, declining to describe it as a "one-off" incident.

"What I think this case illustrates is the care which the Australian Government, through its agencies, including ABF, takes to ensure everyone that arrives in Australia is subject to appropriate scrutiny," he said.

"And where there is an unacceptable risk threshold, they are dealt with appropriately."

Terrorism warnings 'not merely to scare people'

There has also been increased intelligence sharing between Australian and European security agencies and Senator Brandis said the domestic terror threat was "real and present".

He said the threat level remained at probable, meaning "a terrorism event is assessed as likely".

"This is not something that the Government is saying merely to scare people," he said.

"This is a judgement made not by politicians, but by the Director General of ASIO in consultation with security professionals.

"We have in the last 14 months seen three lethal terrorist events in Australia ... each of those was inspired in one way or another by Islamist extremism."

Acting Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek praised the security and intelligence officers for their work in stopping the man.

Ms Plibersek said Labor remained united with the Government on national security.

"I was very pleased to see that our security and intelligence agencies picked up someone who was suspected of prior intent," she said.

"It shows the effectiveness of the people that we have working here."