Labor vows to double Coalition funding for domestic violence victims

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is promising to double the coalition government's spending in support of women and children escaping domestic violence.

Women and children escaping domestic abuse are being offered extra support as Labor promises to double coalition government spending on family violence.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is pledging an extra $332 million over four years towards early intervention, frontline services, emergency accommodation and legal support.

Bill Shorten will more than double national funding towards tackling family violence, committing an extra $332 million over four years. Source: AAP

Beginning his campaign day in Melbourne on Friday, Mr Shorten said while the willingness to talk about family violence had changed, the number of deaths had not.

One woman is murdered each week by a current or former partner.

"And to be really blunt - in a crisis, words don't put a roof over your head," Mr Shorten told AAP.

"Words don't pay the bills if your partner has closed your accounts and frozen your card. They don't help you steer through the legal minefield of the courts.

"If you're caught up in the frightening, dangerous ordeal of family violence - what you need is practical help, real money, concrete support on the frontline."

The funding announcement will form a key plank of Labor's women's policy launch ahead of the federal election on May 18.

Mr Shorten is promising to make family violence a national priority.

“One woman a week is murdered by a current or former partner". Source: Supplied

Labor would spend an extra $60 million on refuges and emergency accommodation, doubling the coalition's commitment.

The opposition would also create a new $90 million legal assistance fund to help victims of family violence.

Labor estimates the funding boost would help 115,000 more women.

Another $88 million would be spent on safe, affordable housing for women and children escaping violence, older women at risk of homelessness, and young people exiting home care.

Labor is hoping to win several key federal seats across outer-metropolitan Melbourne.

While the coalition is unlikely to argue with more money for domestic violence supports, it is expected to raise questions about how Labor will pay for its promises, having claimed most are funded by tax hikes.