This morning I come before you with the heaviest of - TopicsExpress

This morning I come before you with the heaviest of hearts. Unbelievably, overnight we have lost a number of our own citizens, in an attack we thought we’d never see here in our city. But the values we held dear yesterday we hold dear today. They are the values of freedom, democracy and harmony. These defined us yesterday. They define us today. They will define us tomorrow. Our first thoughts and prayers this morning are with the innocent victims their families and friends of this vicious, horrendous attack. I want to say to their family and friends, everyone in NSW stands beside you. This morning. Tomorrow. Forever. I pay tribute to the men and women of the NSW Police who have saved many many lives over the past day and have risked their lives in doing so. I also want to pay tribute to all other emergency service workers and authorities who have provided vital assistance. My thoughts remain with those hostages who have been freed. Every care they need at this traumatic time will be made available to them. We are a peaceful, harmonious society which is the envy of the world. How we react in coming days will show who we are. We will come through this. Today, while we grieve, we must go about our usual lives -- we work, we talk to our families, neighbours and friends. And I say to everyone… today we must come together like never before. We are stronger together. We will get through this together.