The parents of the youngest victim of the Bondi mass shooting have suggested a unique memorial to their little girl, as parliament honoured the 15 innocent lives lost in Australia’s worst terrorist attack.

Valentyna Poltavchenko and Michael Britvan, who were attending the Hanukkah by the Sea celebration with 10-year-old Matilda and her little sister Summer when the attack occurred, said the footbridge used by the two gunmen should remain as a permanent reminder of the tragedy.

The couple told the ABC the bridge could be painted yellow, the colour of the dress Matilda wore on the day she died, with a plaque to commemorate all the shooting victims.

“I want it in place so people can go on it and look at the park from the highest point and feel the pain that was just in front of them,” Poltavchenko said of the hundred-year-old bridge, which the local council is currently debating what to do with.

Britvan described Matilda as “the most beautiful, the smartest girl”, adding: “She was very special to me.”

In their first interview since the massacre, the couple also expressed little confidence that hate laws proposed in the wake of the shooting would avert a similar attack in the future.

“When the government tries to rush any laws, especially after a tragedy, they’re never good,” Britvant told the ABC.

“They are usually to control law-abiding people and not the criminals, because criminals do not care about any laws you make about any speech or any guns. They will find their way.”

Parliament observed a minute of silence for the victims of the Bondi attack. Photo: AAP

There were emotional scenes as parliament returned for a two-day sitting on Monday and honoured the Bondi victims in a minute of silence.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese read out the names of the 15 slain Hanukkah revellers whose lives were “cruelly stolen” in the nation’s worst terror attack.

The “cruel and senseless” massacre wasn’t random, Albanese said, stating that Jewish Australians were the target of the two Islamic State-inspired father-and-son shooters, Sajid and Naveed Akram.

The Prime Minister called on Australians to channel their anger into meaningful action to ensure a similar attack never happens again.

“That responsibility starts with me, as Australia’s 31st prime minister,” he said.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers welcomed the Bondi survivors listening to the condolence motion and thanked them for sharing their stories of survival.

“At least 55 were wounded and survived. These are miracles,” he said. “Jewish law tells us that when God performs a miracle, you’re obligated to return to that place and give thanks.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Jewish Australians had warned of the “menacing storm” of antisemitism following the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel but their warnings went unheard.

To confront and defeat the evil of anti-Semitism, parliament must face an uncomfortable truth, she said.

“Radical Islamist extremism caused this. Leaders need to be able to express this clearly, because if you can’t name the problem, you can’t possibly defeat it,” Ley said.

Anthony Albanese told the Jewish community they were not alone in their grief. Photo: AAP

Jewish Labor backbencher Mark Dreyfus recited the Mourners’ Kaddish, a prayer calling for peace in a time of loss.

He became emotional as he remembered the “parents, children, neighbours and friends” left behind in the December 14 attack.

“A home left quieter, clothes still hanging in wardrobes, photos on walls that will never be updated, children asking when someone is coming home,” he said.

Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns was interrupted by his newborn daughter crying in the public gallery, before he said dehumanisation led to the massacre.

“That’s my beautiful new daughter, forgive me. She’ll calm down, hopefully,” Burns said, looking over to her.

“We must not dehumanise each other, because dehumanisation is what leads to exactly what happened in Bondi.”

Deputy opposition leader Ted O’Brien said Burns didn’t need to apologise “for the beautiful sound from your child”.

“I think it’s a sombre reminder to all of us, that we are here for a condolence motion, but indeed, an obligation to the next generation.”

As well as paying respect to the victims of the Bondi attack, politicians are using the snap two-day recall of federal parliament to try to rush through legislation to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Albanese, whose personal standing with voters has taken a hit since the tragedy, has warned that the contentious hate speech laws could be shelved for the rest of his term if they fail to gain the necessary support.

–with AAP