In the face of one of Australia’s darkest days, tonight Brisbane landmarks will glow bright because we choose light over darkness.
Yesterday’s terrorist attack occurred on the first night of Hanukkah, one of the Jewish community’s most cherished celebrations of light, faith and resilience.
The horror of what unfolded yesterday will stay with families and our community for a long time.
We are a peaceful and loving nation and yesterday’s terrorist attack strikes directly at the values that hold our community together.
When any group of Australians is deliberately targeted, it is an attack on all of us and our way of life.
Australia is the sum of all of us and we all have a responsibility to extinguish the fire of hatred that extremist fringe groups are actively trying to inflame.
Make no mistake, this must be a turning point.
In the days ahead, I hope this horror prompts a real national conversation about how we shut down hate, look out for each other and stick together.