More than 200 spiritual and political leaders will gather in NSW parliament tomorrow to ease tensions fuelled by the war in Afghanistan and local debate over asylum seekers.
Premier Bob Carr, who last week called the gathering, said it was time Australians re-committed themselves to building a nation of tolerance.
Leaders would be asked to take back a message of peace and unity to their respective communities, he said.
The gathering will include Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist leaders.
Catholic Archbishop George Pell, Anglican Archbishop Peter Jensen and Muslim Sheik Tajjadine El Hilaly are among the leaders listed to speak at the forum.
"We've got to underline that tolerance is one of the cardinal Australian virtues," Mr Carr said.
"We've built a successful country here with people drawn from a spectacular diversity of countries and the remarkable fact is that we get on with each other so well.
"Let's not depart from that no matter what the provocations are with terrorism and a war in South Asia."
Other speakers include Rabbi Raymond Apple from Sydney's Great Synagogue, Protopresbyter Steven Soutas from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, and the United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation of Australia and New Zealand president, The Most Venerable Thich Phuoc Hue.
The leaders would sign a symbolic statement of peace and unity, Mr Carr said.
"It gives these religious leaders something to report back to their own congregations," he said.
"It will attract the attention of many people who have been disturbed by the terrorist incidents, by the distressing news about war and the loss of life, and the rather jagged debate caused by the refugee incidents.
"It's time to say we're proud of our diversity, we're proud of the fact that we've been tolerant and we re-commit ourselves to the tolerance that is a proud Australian achievement."
Mr Carr said there were signs tensions were easing.
A hotline set up to handle distress calls from local Muslims following the US terrorist strikes in September had been closed down.
"It's been closed down because the calls to it were drying up," Mr Carr said.
"That's a good thing because people don't feel the stress out there, the fear that led us to address those concerns by setting up the hotlines in the first place."
The hotline received more than 300 calls.