Sydney, Dec 17 (IANS): Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot Wednesday announced an inquiry into the Sydney hostage crisis that left three people, including the hostage-taker, dead, media reported.

The inquiry will be conducted by federal and New South Wales (NSW) officials who would report back by the end of January and would focus on how the perpetrator, Man Haron Monis, evaded authorities, The Canberra Times reported.

Monis had a history of violence and was well known to state and federal police and the domestic spy agency Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

The police will inquire how Monis got permanent residency in Australia, why he was receiving welfare payments, how he got a gun licence, why he was allowed out into the community on bail and why he had fallen off the terror watch list in 2009.

Prime Minister Abbott said he would "not rest" until he was confident that Australians were as safe as the government could make them.

He said there was "incredulity" in the national security committee of the cabinet when it was briefed on the details of Monis's life.

Monis moved to Australia from Iran in 1996 and received political asylum in 2001.