Australia's second action plan to end violence against women and children is being developed as the government defends its resistance to holding a royal commission on the issue.
Major consultation has opened to develop the next stage of the ten-year national plan to end violence against women and children.
The consultation aims to focus on the practical and systemic solutions that will have the greatest impact over the next five years.
The importance of tackling the issue of gender-based violence could not be overstated, Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said.
"Violence is learnt as respect is learnt," she told ABC Radio National on Friday.
"All of us need to change, all of us need to keep this front and centre, not just when another horrific death is reported, but always (because) this is going to take a whole community to change."
