The federal government's $100 million domestic violence package is just "chump change" compared to the annual cost of abuse, a university academic says.
Flinders University's head of women's studies, Yvonne Corcoran-Nantes, says the funding sounds impressive but closer examination reveals it falls far short of what is needed.
Seven years ago domestic violence was estimated to be costing the national economy $3.6 billion annually, Associate Professor Corcoran-Nantes said.
She said that cost was probably more now.
"While $100 million is better than nothing, it's pitiful in the context of the scale of the challenge."
A South Australian victim support group has also questioned a lack of funding to help the children of parents killed as a result of domestic violence.
The Victim Support Service has called on the Turnbull government to fund trauma counselling for children who aren't eligible for SA services because they don't display severe behavioural or emotional issues after the murder of a parent.
"There needs to be some financial support so that those children can get access to things they need - a safe environment, access to medical services and psychological first aid," chief executive Julian Roffe told AAP on Thursday.
"The child is the hidden victim."
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill welcomed the commonwealth's funding initiative and said the state was ready to make a financial contribution.
He said SA had already introduced important reforms to combat domestic violence and was willing to share those with the commonwealth.
"This is a national emergency," Mr Weatherill said.
"Too many women are dying at the hands of their partners. Too many women are fearful of violence against them through their partners."
