Family violence not women conspiracy:Batty

Rosie Batty has dismissed men's rights activists saying domestic violence is not a feminist conspiracy.

The former Australian of the Year has also likened family violence to terrorism, saying language can be a powerful mode for affecting change.

"I like to say 'family terrorism' because as soon as I say that people really nod their head and some people feel very uncomfortable," she told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.

"The language around how we talk ... that makes a big difference."

The domestic violence campaigner has turned her attention to the family law courts and wants more training for judges and legislative protections for victims.

She's also thrown her support behind the ACT government's $30 annual domestic violence funding levy, saying governments need to commit financially to tackling such the "epidemic".

Ms Batty said there were many women who would not want to see violence as a gendered issue - it's never been asserted that all men were bad and all women were good.

Asked about hostility from men's rights groups, Ms Batty pointed to statistics showing women as overwhelmingly the victims.

"The evidence is all there. This is not a feminist conspiracy."

National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.