I am all for full, open and independent inquires into police action whenever it's necessary. The focus of inquiry has moved from the response of those directly involved, to the input of the top brass of the NSW Police force. Naturally, both Burn and Scipione have tried to minimize their involvement, given that there are indication of serious defects within the whole operation "It (command) was a shambles, a shambles of command, control, co-ordination and intelligence." The Coronial Inquiry will get to the truth.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/there-is-a-crisis-of-leadership-in-the-nsw-police-20160818-gqw8f5.html

A very illuminating article, Paul. It seems that the problems always start at the top in most organisations these days.

"..she stormed out of the inquest with bitter words for a police commander: Youre an absolute disgrace. .."

No I don't agree. They lost emails and dictaphone records. Hillary Clinton did.
Police lost their equipment. So did Obama.
"The United States Army’s finances are so jumbled it had to make trillions of dollars of improper accounting adjustments to create an illusion that its books are balanced.

The Defense Department’s Inspector General, in a June report, said the Army made $2.8 trillion in wrongful adjustments to accounting entries in one quarter alone in 2015, and $6.5 trillion for the year. Yet the Army lacked receipts and invoices to support those numbers or simply made them up."
Things went quite well really.

ttbn, the problems within the top echelons of the NSW Police force have been obvious and rather deep for some time. There was an ugly split between the Burn camp and Nick Kaldas, both were vying for the top job when Scipione goes, Burn seemed to win that one, and has been in favor with Scipione ever since. The police commissioners job has always been very political in NSW. This inquire could spell the end for both Scipione, who could slip quietly into retirement when it all blows over Worse for Burn as it will most likely sink her aspirations for the top job.

Lets be perfectly clear on one specific issue. NSW Police were perfectly equipped, both with sufficient knowledge and appropriate equipment to end the siege in a timely manner. Then what happened ? Too many cooks, indecision, inappropriate policy (wait it out, rather then 'storm' the premises, thus deflecting the bad publicity that comes with unnecessary bloodshed?).

The operatives on the ground were more than willing and capable of ending the event, but I think it was PAUL1405 who opined 'politics', politics and more politics ! The whole job is stuffed, because of the petty politics that causes many of our bosses from making a decision ! After over 32 years, I could take no more, a great job buggered by a politically driven police command.

O? Why do you claim "perfectly equipped" ?
A bloke wandered out of a hospital here, walked down a lane carrying a cafe knife and was shot dead before a policeman could spell "politics".