Editorial: Powers to curb terror

Man Haron Monis was killed in the Sydney siege.

The hostage crisis in Sydney brought home the horrifying reality that acts of terror can happen anywhere in the world and that we are not immune.

The 16-hour standoff at the city cafe ended after police stormed the building. Two hostages, a mother-of-three and the manager of the Sydney cafe, lost their lives.

Six other people were wounded and the gunman, self-described Muslim cleric Man Haron Monis, was also killed in the attack.

MP Mark Mitchell, who chaired the anti-terrorist legislation rushed through Parliament last week, said the attack showed the bill was "100 per cent" justified.

Passed with the support of Labour, the legislation gave the Security Intelligence Service extra powers including warrantless surveillance for 24 hours and the ability to cancel passports for up to three years.

"It becomes a lot more real for people when it's three hours across the Ditch," Mr Mitchell said.

According to an AAP report, Monis' motives are a mystery and his acts have been described as random and deranged, but analysts say the gunman could still score a propaganda coup for jihadists.

He was described as a "fringe Islamist" who acted on his own, and while the reasons for his acts remained murky, analysts said Islamic State could take it as a win for their cause, the report said.

What we do know about the gunman paints a picture of a deeply troubled man.

Also known as Sheikh Haron, he was sentenced to 300 hours' community service and placed on a two-year good behaviour bond in 2013 for sending "grossly offensive" letters to families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

He had been charged with being an accessory before and after the fact to the murder of his ex-wife, who was allegedly stabbed and set alight in her apartment complex. Most recently he has been charged with 50 counts of indecent assault relating to his time as a self-proclaimed "spiritual healer" a decade ago.

Whether he acted alone or was part of a network, if the new legislation will help protect citizens from people like Monis then it was essential the law changes were made.

As this paper has noted before, we must ensure our police and spy agencies have the powers they need to prevent such things happening here.