Thank you to community members and faith leaders from across the city who attended last night’s vigil for the Bondi shooting victims.

At a time of grief and despair, it was an important opportunity for us to stand in support of Jewish Australians against all hatred and racism and also to express our solidarity in the face of evil.

Unity, compassion and tolerance are the Australian way and despite the hurt we all feel, I hope that together we can find ways to defy hatred based upon faith or race, and to embrace the essential goodness that lies within most of us.

Meanwhile, this Sunday has been declared a Day of Reflection to honour the victims.

Flags on all Federal and NSW Government buildings will be flown at half mast and people are asked to light a candle at 6.47pm, one week after the attack, as an act of remembrance. Australians are also asked to observe a minute of silence at that time.