Abbott: Why was gunman on streets?

Australia’s prime minister has questioned why someone with such a “long and chequered history” as Sydney siege gunman Man Horan Monis was at large in the community.

But Tony Abbott conceded that even if the 50-year-old had been on a watch list, officials might not have been able to prevent the bloody hostage crisis that unfolded over 16 hours in the centre of the city and which claimed two innocent lives.

“These are questions that we need to look at carefully and calmly and methodically to learn the right lessons and to act upon them. That’s what we’ll be doing in the days and weeks ahead.”