A senior negotiator engaged in the Lindt Cafe siege says he had undertaken "Islam 101" training but had never dealt with a professed terrorist before.
The negotiations unit co-ordinator, who acted as team leader during the deadly December 2014 siege, fronted an inquest into the siege on Thursday.
The detective senior sergeant, known by the pseudonym Reg, told of undertaking four weeks in negotiations training over three years from 1998.
He then undertook a national counter-terror training course in 2001, which he refreshed twice over the next seven years.
RELATED READINGS:
Cop accused of bungling Lindt siege
He told the inquest in those years, not everybody at the course was familiar with Islam, and religious training was provided to bring people up to speed.
"(It was) in essence a 101 in trying to understand Islam - the faith and the religion," he said.
The inquest heard he had never been confronted with a terrorist before the Lindt siege or dealt with situations involving any more than three hostages.
He said when it was revealed there was a gunman with a backpack and a suspected Islamic flag holding a large number of people hostage, it was clear the December 2014 siege presented a unique challenge.
"It took a whole new twist ... in that sense, it was going to be a big job," the inquest was told.
Under questioning from counsel assisting, Jason Downing, Reg said he could have done with more resources on the day.
"If I had my time again, and touch wood I don't, I would definitely have called on other resources," he said.
Reg said not having officers stationed at all major media outlets hampered the flow of information coming through to the negotiating team.
"That information was either not forthcoming or very slow forthcoming," he said.
The inquest also heard that four trained negotiators were dispatched to the NSW central coast to monitor triple-zero calls.
The witness was asked whether he believed gunman Man Haron Monis should have been allowed to go on the ABC as he had demanded.
"It's not my call ... at the end of the day the decision is made with the senior officer," he said.
"(It's) above my pay grade."
The inquest heard that by 1.19pm on December 15, a key objective of the negotiating team was identified as "drill down type of bomb" - to identify what explosive Monis was claiming he was carrying.
Reg was asked what specific information he was given on the bomb after that briefing.
"Specifically on the bomb? Nothing," he replied.
The inquest heard negotiators never spoke directly with Monis throughout the 17 hour siege, but instead communicated with him through hostages.
The inquest continues.
