A business card bearing the name of Sydney siege victim, Lindt Cafe store manager Tori Johnson, is pictured among photos of him wearing a red shirt at an impromptu memorial in Martin Place December 17, 2014. Tough new national security laws failed to prev
IN PHOTO: A business card bearing the name of Sydney siege victim, Lindt Cafe store manager Tori Johnson, is pictured among photos of him wearing a red shirt at an impromptu memorial in Martin Place December 17, 2014. Tough new national security laws failed to prevent a deadly hostage crisis in the heart of Sydney this week, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Wednesday, raising questions about the usefulness of such measures. REUTERS/Jason Reed

An extensive investigation revealed that Islamic State had no role to play in the Sydney siege. After studying Man Haron Monis’ online communication, no evidence has been found that link the gunman with the militant group.

Sophie Callan, junior counsel assisting the inquiry, asked if there was any evidence that Monis had made any contact with ISIS militants. Detective Senior Constable Murray Northy replied that he had not seen any such evidence.

The NSW Coroner's Court heard on Thursday that Monis had used Internet and social media at length. He tried influencing others with his political views and beliefs over social networking websites.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Monis had promoted some posts on Facebook by having paid posts on the social networking website. He posted a number of pictures and videos which went against the company policies on "hateful, threatening and obscene" material.

Monis had written a letter to Attorney-General George Brandis, asking him if it was against the law to make contact with ISIS authorities. In reply, the Attorney-General's department told him that he should seek professional advice about it. According to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the authorities might have given Monis “the benefit of the doubt.”

Monis used an email address PeaceActivist@hotmail.com and compared himself to Australian journalist Julian Assange, the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks. He condemned the presence of Western forces in the Middle East in his letters to Abbott and U.S. President Barack Obama.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was asked by shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus if there was a change of protocols within the federal government after the national terror alert had been raised to high in September 2014. Bishop said that the Opposition was trying to politicise things.

"I find it extraordinary that this former attorney-general is trying to make political mileage out of this national tragedy," ABC News quoted Bishop, "Madam Speaker, this line of questioning is utterly contemptible and as a former attorney-general he ought be ashamed of himself." However, Dreyfus remained unfazed by her arguments and asked why Monis’ enquiry had not alarmed the authorities.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has always maintained his stance that Labor handles terror-related issues "shoulder-to-shoulder" with the Government. However, it kept on questioning the Government’s method of handling the issue.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au

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