Family violence focus before Vic election

Victorian deaths from family violence are completely preventable but significant investment is needed to curb further tragedies, advocates warn.

As the November 29 state election looms, family violence agencies have banded together to push politicians to make the issue their top agenda at the poll.

Advocates and those touched by family violence gathered on the steps of state parliament on Monday, where red and white roses were laid in memory of women and children killed in family violence last year.

Domestic Violence Victoria CEO Fiona McCormack said significant investment is needed, but also leadership.

"We've had 29 women and eight children murdered just last year and that's not counting Luke Batty, that's not counting all the murders we've seen this year," she said.

"It's critical, it's completely preventable, we can turn this around."

Backing the push is Wendy Phillips who lost her sister to family violence.

Lynette Phillips, 27, was killed in 2007 by her ex-partner after trying repeatedly to leave him. She had an intervention order out against him at the time.

Ms Phillips believes her sister could have been saved if there had been more interaction from agencies, including doctors, psychologists and others in the mental health field.

"It's an unimaginable nightmare," she said.

Ms McCormack says more can be done with the available resources if ministers understood family violence to be a key to their portfolios.

But significant funds were needed, with family violence costing the Victorian economy $3.4 billion a year.

She says the spend on family violence is less than what is spent on public transport safety officers, even though on average one person a year is murdered on public transport compared with the murder toll of domestic violence last year.

"We need the voters of Victoria to make this the key issue."

Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge said the government is already working to drive change, including rolling out a successful trial program co-ordinating justice and family violence services for high-risk women.

Labor is pressing ahead with a royal commission into family violence should it win the election.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews says the system is broken and only a royal commission will find a way to rebuild it from the ground up.