Severe reaction from authorities over imported sample in Australia.

Complete knee-jerk overreaction. Two things come to mind - Someone/some people messed up, got caught, so went like a bull in a china shop to blow it all out of proportions to cover their own ass/asses. The other, ABP wanted to make an example, and they used him. Nobody has been prosecuted with nuclear proliferation in ~80 years, AFAIK, so it was a great way for them to flex their muscles and show the world! And as usual, the mainstream media did a great job in scaring the public (as well as ABP et al) and teaching them how horrific and dangerous a tiny little source is. I have always said this: A radioactive source is as safe as the idiot holding it.