Nothing suprising about the seige itself. Authorities thought or presumed Australia is a world away from overseas events of the likes of this. Hence, the lack of training in dealing with specialised incidents such as the Lindt cafe scenario.

This was echoed by UK security experts whom have had experience dealing with the likes of IRA rebels before "Terrorism" became a popular word this century.

Feb 22, 2010 - Kevin Rudd says Australians are now under a permanent and increased threat of attack from homegrown terrorists.

A 21-YEAR-OLD British backpacker has died after allegedly being stabbed by a French national yelling “Allahu akbar” at a north Queensland hostel.

http://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/woman-dead-after-stabbing-attack-in-home-hill-queensland/news-story/91afbeba8bb3fa6458486099cbb18087

I told you all it would only be a matter of time.
And I told you the do-gooders would be to blame.
Don't we all love Islam...

Hi there CHRISGAFF100...

I heard Colin DELANEY wasn't a bad sort of a bloke, as Commissioners go ? As I stated earlier on, I joined under Norman T.W.ALLAN and as you would remember his notoriety preceded him with his stupidity over silly Wally MELLISH at Glenfield ?

Mate I don't know, Commissioners come and Commissioners go, and it's left to the troops to clean up after each of them. From what I've heard the job's changed inordinately, and most probably neither of us would recognise many of the old squads and faces after so long. Speaking of the QLD. bloke with the AK 74 there's been a big push in NSW, in the interdiction of illegal F/A's brought in by organised Bikie gangs, probably generating more revenue now than 'Ice', though I would be surprised at that ?

I understand your Labour Premier (can't spell the ladies name) is set upon 'decreasing' the powers of police to lock-up Bikies (sorry I'm unsure of the correct title of the legislation)this is after your former Liberal government enacted those powers, and from my understanding have worked superbly ? Buggered if I know Chris ?

Something I was going to ask you Chris - were you ever on the square, when you served down here ? I was admitted on 18/08/81 L. McKAY (of course)!

o sung wu,

The Wally/Norman saga was a show to beat all shows.

Supposedly the Armalite rifle that he gave Wally Mellish would only fire one shdt and then jam, this "fact" was demonstrated by two scientific blokes the next day to an admiring and gullible press.
A pin was removed from the mechanism and replaced with a piece of a match and the gullibleones were told that because of thid mod it would only fire one shot.
They loaded the magazine and then cycled the action and WOW!! it only fired one shot.....marvelous what can be achieved by a discrete ding or two in a cartridge case!!

Two days later the late Les Crisp, of Smith's Sports Store, gave a demo to the press with an Armalite, he replaced every pin that he could with match sticks and proceeded to fire a full magazine; nary a word ever appeared in print.

Hi there IS MISE...

It was indeed a real fiasco. I wasn't there so I don't know any of the precise facts other than it did irreparable damage to ALLAN'S professional reputation, and made the NSW Police a real laughing stock !

The fact is, in normal course of events, a Commissioner of Police, of any police force, wouldn't and shouldn't (ordinarily) attend such an incident, unless there are compelling reasons to do so. Wally MELLISH was well known to police, and was considered all 'piss and wind', he had a lot of form for crying 'wolf', and making a lot of noise and empty threats. 'Norman the foreman' was well briefed by the incident commander, but he decided nevertheless that he should attend. His call of course ?

I don't know IS MISE, what I would've done if it were down to me ? Given MELLISH was all noise, he did have his 'on again, off again' wife/girlfriend in the house with him, so they couldn't very well risk her safety, given that silly WALLY did possess a F/A or weapon of sorts. That was prior to ALLAN arriving, and offering him a selection of arms that might suit him better ? To 'muck around' with Wally's weapon, was a must, to do otherwise would've proved culpable should someone lose their life as a consequence.

I must say IS MISE, you've got a very good memory, for something so long ago ? I knew the Reverend who attended, quite well, as he was the official Anglican Minister for Long Bay, but for the life of me, I can't recall his name ? 'Clyde' something or other, from memory, too long ago I'm afraid ?