Australia must ramp up its efforts to prevent tragedies such as the alleged murder of a Perth family last week, the government says.
Minister for Women Kelly O'Dwyer became emotional in parliament while discussing the death of a woman, her three daughters and mother on September 3, noting a man has been charged.
"Any attempt to describe the horror of this tragedy that ended the lives of three small children, the children's mother and their grandmother is futile. It is incomprehensible," she said on Tuesday.
"Sadly, it marks the third terrible killing, a family killing, in WA this year. It is clear that family and domestic violence remains far too prevalent."
The minister stressed that both sides of parliament, in Canberra and across the states and territories, must do more to tackle the issue.
"We must redouble our efforts to stop these tragedies and improve support for those people who are affected."
Her comments come ahead of a vote in federal parliament on Tuesday on legislation that would ban people who have been accused of violence against their partners from cross-examining them in court.
