NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has ordered an urgent review of security for the Sydney Harbour Bridge after a man climbed to the top and staged a protest.
Police closed all traffic lanes, train and bus services were halted and pedestrians barred from crossing the bridge just after 5am (AEST) on Friday as officers negotiated with the man.
He has been charged by NSW police and will appear in court on Friday.
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Mr O'Farrell said the review would investigate the adequacy of security patrols, CCTV and physical barriers such as gates and fences.
He also wants a review of criminal charges levied on offenders who illegally attempt to climb the bridge.
"I don't believe the system worked with the disruption that it caused for commuters in Sydney," Mr O'Farrell told reporters
outside state parliament.
"We've asked for the review, I want to see that review.
"I want to ensure that the security arrangements are adequate.
"I want to do what we can to try and avoid repeats.
"I know how hard that will be because this appears to have been a single incident by a single person that caused mass disruption."
Mr O'Farrell did not lay blame on any organisation for the incident but said the ultimate responsibility lay with police.
"The police, at the end of the day, are the people that we look to maintain law and order in this city," he said.
He said he was frustrated and angry over the incident.
He would not elaborate on how security arrangements on the Harbour Bridge would change between now and when the review was
completed.
Les Wielinga, director-general of Transport NSW, said he was concerned about the man's ability to climb the Harbour Bridge to stage a protest.
"I'm concerned about it ... I don't like it at all," Mr Wielinga told reporters on Friday.
"I mind that I had to close an important transport artery into the city ... I resent the fact that that (traffic) was interrupted
today."
Mr Wielinga said there were comprehensive security plans in place to keep iconic structures like the Harbour Bridge safe, including security cameras and guards.
But he acknowledged that the man had launched a well-planned operation.
The 38-year-old man, who called himself Michael, was a former SAS soldier and was "going beserk" because he was being denied access to his children, friends said.
His friend and neighbour, Dell, said Michael had three children and was desperate to see them.
"I've seen him with his little kids and they love him to bits," she told Fairfax Radio.
"My grandchildren play with them and he has had dramas and he's been denied to see his children since January.
"I hate seeing him portrayed as this idiot because he loves those kids and they've had them in protective custody and they didn't even tell him where they were and I've seen him going berserk."
Dell also said Michael was a former SAS soldier who had served in Iraq.
Another friend, Bob, said all Michael wanted was to see his children.
"This poor man suffered so much," he told Fairfax Radio Network.
Police arrested the man at 7am (AEST) and re-opened the bridge.
He had reportedly parked his truck near a pylon on the bridge and used ropes to make his climb about 5am (AEST).
When at the top he unfurled two pink and white banners reading, "plz help my kids" and "kids first".
He came down about 7am (AEST) and was immediately arrested by police.
All road lanes on the bridge, and all trains across it, were closed during his protest.
The man, who said he was "ex-military", spoke to Triple M radio on Friday morning.
"There are systematic fails in both federal and state governments .... the police and also the school systems that are letting our children down. And the children don't have a voice," the man told Triple M radio.
He said "there is a major failure in the fact that there's no-one looking after our kids when parents separate and divorce."
He said he was staging a "peaceful protest" against the Department of Community Services (DOCS).
The man has been charged for three offences including obstructing traffic and climbing on bridges.
While the bridge has been opened again and traffic is flowing smoothly, Transport NSW said that commuters using public transport were still experiencing delays.
