Bondi centre stage at Premier’s Harmony Dinner

The Bondi Beach terror attack and its aftermath were front and centre at Thursday night’s NSW Premier’s Harmony Dinner, with several speeches mentioning the attack, a Q&A with hero Ahmed al-Ahmed, and a beautiful musical tribute by members of the Jewish band Chutney.

Around 1600 people – the largest attendance ever – packed the grand ballroom at Sydney’s International Convention Centre for the event, at which members of different communities were also honoured for their contributions to NSW.

Premier Chris Minns said December 14 “was a day that we’ll always remember”.

“It was an attack on members of our community, the Jewish members of our community. It was designed to intimidate and to frighten, but also to scatter and silence, to drive a wedge of suspicion between us,” he said.

“But tonight, instead of retreating from one another, instead of giving in to that threat, we’ve come out here as one united community to show the world what the real Australia looks like.”