The prime minister has announced Thursday will be a national day of mourning for victims of the Bondi terror attack.
Major buildings will be illuminated in a “symbol of light” and flags will be flown at half-mast, with a minute’s silence to take place in the evening.
Here’s what you need to know.
What is planned for the national day of mourning?
The day of mourning will be for all Australians to honour the 15 victims and those impacted by the Bondi beach terrorist attack on 14 December while they were celebrating the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Hanukah.
Both New South Wales and Canberra will bathe national institutions in light on Thursday evening, symbolising the theme the Chabad community in Bondi has chosen for the day: “Light will win, a gathering of unity and remembrance.”
A commemorative installation, 15 Pillars of Light, will also be held in Canberra and across Australia, with each pillar to “serve a visible symbol of mourning, remembrance and national solidarity”, according to the federal government.
Flags will be flown at half-mast from all federal and NSW government buildings and establishments, while other organisations and jurisdictions are being encouraged to do the same.
A national memorial service is being organised by the Chabad of Bondi at 7pm AEDT, which is invitation-only but will be livestreamed on the organisation’s YouTube channel and on Sky News. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and NSW premier, Chris Minns, will speak at the event.
In Melbourne, multifaith leaders will gather for a vigil at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Is the Bondi attack day of mourning a public holiday?
There will not be a public holiday and there is no formal requirement for any events to be suspended. The federal government says organisations and businesses “may wish to acknowledge the day if appropriate”.
It will be the first time Australia has observed a national day of mourning since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
Albanese said in a press conference on Saturday that the day would be “an opportunity for us to pay respects as a nation to those people who lost their lives”.
Ways to take part in the Bondi day of mourning
The prime minister is encouraging the public and television networks to observe one minute of silence at 7.01pm AEDT to honour those impacted by the shooting.
The ABC will observe the minute of silence on its networks, a spokesperson confirmed, with more detail on the public broadcaster’s programming plans to come closer to the event. 7NEWS will extend its 6pm news bulletin to observe the minute of silence.
SBS and NITV will also observe the minute of silence, a spokesperson said, on national broadcasts, live streams and on SBS radio channels.
Sky News Australia will broadcast the national memorial service, with Sharri Markson to host. Channel 9 will also broadcast the service on 9Go! and observe the minute silence on its Australian Open broadcast and 9News.
Australians are also invited to leave a candle on their doorstep or window as a symbol of “remembrance, mourning and solidarity with the Jewish community”, and to come together, share a meal and spend time with family and friends of all faiths and backgrounds.
Condolence messages can be shared online through an ongoing Bondi Beach condolence book. In addition, the prime minister has distributed a list of 15 suggested mitzvahs to observe for Bondi.
What is a mitzvah?
A mitzvah is an act of kindness, compassion and moral responsibility that is a core value in Judaism alongside tikkun olam (making the world a better place). In the religious sense, there are 613 mitzvahs – divine commandments given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. In common usage, the term has come to mean any charitable act.
Since the terror attack, Jewish faith leaders have been encouraging Australians of any faith or background to do a good deed as part of the One Mitzvah for Bondi campaign “in memory and honour of those who no longer can”, as Rabbi Eli Feldman of Newtown synagogue put it.
The campaign encourages acts big or small, such as donating to charitable causes, doing voluntary work or giving blood – as a record number did in the days after the attack.
The federal government has suggested 15 mitzvahs to do on Thursday for the number of people lost in the Bondi attack. They range from visiting the sick to travelling with care, being kind to animals and checking in on a neighbour, to offering support to local businesses.
