Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invoked the Bondi Beach terror attack in his New Year’s address, saying the tragedy had also shown the "best of the Australian spirit".
"Of course, right now, the joy that we usually feel at the start of a new year, is tempered by the sadness of the old," he said.
"Following the terror inflicted on Jewish Australians at Bondi Beach, our hearts ache for every life lost, and every life changed forever."
"Yet what Bondi also showed us was the best of the Australian spirit, in all its courage and compassion."
Fifteen people were killed when father and son Sajid, 50, and Naveed Akram 24, allegedly opened fire into a crowd of people celebrating at a Jewish Hanukkah festival on the iconic Sydney beach on 14 December.
Albanese announced an independent review, led by former Australian Security Intelligence Organisation chief Dennis Richards, into federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies following the attack.
But he has resisted calls for a royal commission despite mounting criticism, including from the victims' families.
In his address, Albanese said the response to the attack had given him optimism for the year ahead as Australians rise to meet challenges by working together and looking after each other.
"And no matter what the world throws at us, we will keep doing things our way, stay true to who we are, hold on to everything that makes us the best country on Earth," he said.
"Whether we’re here by birth or by choice, we are all proudly Australian, united by our generosity, our resilience and our abiding sense of fairness."
The prime minister said Australia could take pride in being enriched by the world's oldest continuous culture, as well as people of all backgrounds and traditions contributing through hard work and aspiration.
"In so many ways, our Australian story is such a remarkable one, and a beautifully distinctive one," he said.
"In 2026, we will write the next chapter. We’ll do it in a positive way and we’ll do it together."
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