Australian of the Year Rosie Batty has a simple message for federal MPs: stop blaming the victims of domestic violence.
Ms Batty will address a cross parliamentary group of MPs on Monday evening in Canberra, where she will tell them not to fall into the trap of victim blaming.
"We don't realise we're doing it sometimes," the family violence activist told Fairfax Media.
"We expect the victim to leave, become safe, have their life compromised, and then blame them for being in the relationship in the first place."
Ms Batty, whose son Luke was killed by his father Greg last year, said discussion about domestic violence should focus on perpetrator accountability.
She said this necessarily invited questions about gender inequality and "men's sense of entitlement that a woman is their possession", adding that this aspect of domestic violence is "not readily understood".
"What we have to continue to remind ourselves is that violence is a choice."
She said that things like drugs, alcohol and mental illness could exacerbate violence but "they are not an excuse and they are not the reason".
Ms Batty said she would also be asking MPs what they are doing in their electorates to support domestic violence services, while pointing out that there are many forms of violence.
These can include controlling a partner's finances, turning friends and family against them as well as physical and psychological violence.
"We need to be looking at our own backyard and taking responsibility perhaps for some of the behaviour we may not recognise as damaging."
She again called on the Abbott government to increase funding to community legal services and emergency relief grants that support victims of domestic violence. Both have suffered millions of dollars in cuts over the past year.
"It's just so out of touch with what [these services] do," she said.
Ms Batty said community legal help had been essential in supporting her through the coronial inquest into Luke's death last year.
More than 50 MPs and senators are expected to hear Ms Batty speak on Monday.
Labor MP Tim Watts, who started the Parliamentarians Against Family Violence group last year with the support of Coalition MPs Ken Wyatt and Andrew Broad - said that Ms Batty was an "outstanding Australian".
"Not because of what her former partner did, but because of the powerful advocate she has become."
One in six women over 15 has experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner, while one in four has experienced emotional abuse.
1800 Respect - the National Sexual Assault Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service - can be reached on 1800 737 732.
