Two months before Sydney siege gunman Man Haron Monis walked into the Lindt cafe, prosecutors consented to him remaining on bail despite his being charged with 30 new sexual assault offences, court documents show.

The Summary of Reasons for Bail Decision, released to the media on Tuesday, states that Monis's bail was continued "by consent" on October 10 when he appeared in Penrith Local Court to face the new charges.

Having heard no argument to the contrary from the Department of Public Prosecutions, Magistrate, Dorelle Pinch, allowed Monis to remain on bail. It is understood police laid the additional charges by court attendance notice, thereby not requiring him to reapply for bail.

Magistrate Pinch indicated on the form that Monis was an unacceptable risk of "interfering with witnesses or evidence". This was almost certainly a shorthand reference to the previous application where another magistrate, Joan Baptie, found that while Monis represented an unacceptable risk, this could be mitigated by bail conditions.

NSW Police had previously opposed bail for Monis and were concerned "from the very beginning" that he roamed free in the community, Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said.

A police spokesman said on Wednesday that while police continued to hold the view the offender should not be released on bail, as indicated in the fact sheet, the DPP held the contrary view that in light of the court's previous position, bail would not be opposed.

Mr Scipione on Wednesday joined Premier Mike Baird at a makeshift floral memorial where thousands of people have flocked to mourn the loss of two innocent hostages on Tuesday.

Authorities have been pressured to explain why the mentally unstable and fanatical Monis was granted bail, and the government has been criticised for weakened bail laws under which Monis was released in May. The laws have since been toughened but will not take effect until January 28.

Mr Scipione said police were "concerned that this man got bail from the very beginning".

As Fairfax Media has reported, Monis was refused bail in April this year after being charged with three sexual assault offences allegedly committed against a woman in 2002.

At the time, Monis was already on conditional bail granted in December last year. He had been charged with being an accessory to the murder of his former wife. Monis did not apply for bail at another hearing in April and was remanded in custody.

In May, the government changed the bail laws, making it easier for an accused person to be bailed if there is no risk to the community. That month, Monis was granted bail. The bail was continued in October.

Mr Scipione said on Wednesday that police opposed Monis' bail on multiple occasions.

"We … can apply and seek  to have offenders like this not in circulation, but of course we don't make a final determination. That is a matter for a court," he said.

"Whilst we sought to have [his] bail refused, that wasn't to be."

Mr Scipione noted that Monis had not been charged with "anything that was linked to political violence".

Many, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott, have questioned why Monis was not on any government terror watch lists despite being well known to federal and NSW police and ASIO.

Mr Scipione indicated that had Monis been on a watch list, he may not have been granted bail.

"Clearly we work on a priority-based system so that if somebody is on a national security watch list, then we pay particular attention to them. But on this occasion this … individual was not [on a list]."

Mr Scipione said high-ranking officials from the New York police department had contacted him to praise the actions of NSW police during the siege.

"They watched this closely and they are hard markers. For them to come back and tell me that what they saw was nothing short of outstanding, and reflected the highest level of professionalism, is certainly something I take to heart," he said.

Mr Baird said the deaths of Lindt café manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson were "a sadness that was almost too big to bear". But he said Sydney would "come through that".

"Behind me … the hands that have come down and put those flowers in place, that shows that the city's heart is beating again," he said.

"Despite the tragedy, goodness is pouring forth."

Meantime on Wednesday, religious leaders met Mr Baird, Communities Minister Victor Dominello and Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn to discuss ways to maintain community harmony following the siege.

Attendees included Ismail Sirdah, adviser to Grand Mufti Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed, and Islamic Council of NSW chairman  Khaled Sukkarieh.

Mr Baird said religious hatred "won't be tolerated".

"The outpouring of support for members of our Islamic community has been humbling and is symbolic of the values we stand for as Australians: freedom, democracy and harmony," he said.