The prime minister has led tributes to the six people killed in a stabbing attack in Sydney as federal parliament reflected on the tragedy.

A condolence motion was moved for Yixuan Cheng, Pikria Darchia, Ashlee Good, Dawn Singleton, Faraz Tahir and Jade Young, who were killed during a mass stabbing attack in Bondi Junction in April.

A dozen others were injured before the knife-wielding man was shot dead.

Australia mourned “all those whose lives were wrenched from them so brutally and so pointlessly”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament on Tuesday.

“A month on from the shocking events at Bondi Junction Westfield, the distress has barely faded, the grief never will.

“We mourn for all the wonderful, rich possibility of life that was taken from them and we mourn for all those whose lives will always feel the weight of loss.”

The prime minister thanked the paramedics, ambulance, police and health workers who responded to the incident.

He also thanked those who showed up to the vigil and those who offered mental health support in the following days.

“At the worst of times, we once again saw the best of the Australian character, remarkable acts of courage, remarkable acts of compassion, remarkable acts of love,” he said.

“It’s impossible, of course, to think that anything good comes from something like that, but some solace is that humanity really stood tall.”

The terrible tragedy was marked by contrasts, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said as he paid his respects.

“There was cruelty but also compassion, hate but also heroism, human tragedy but also a triumph of the human spirit,” he said.

Mr Dutton thanked first responders, everyday shoppers who jumped into action to help those attacked and the police officer who ran towards danger and shot the attacker.

“At Bondi, bystanders became good Samaritans, and good Samaritans became heroes,” he said.

“But there is no greater hero on that day than NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott – Inspector Scott deserves our nation’s gratitude and praise.”

Six families bore “the tragic, unbearable loss that any one of us could have faced,” local member for Wentworth, independent Allegra Spender, said.

“We must celebrate the positive legacies of those we have lost, the difference in the world that they created, the joy and the love, the people they cared for,” she said.

“We must also hold onto the heroism and kindness that so many showed on the day.

“For there was one person who sought to do terrible harm, but there were hundreds who did everything they could to protect others, to provide comfort and care, in the darkest hour.”

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By Dominic Giannini in Canberra