Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says significant cultural change is needed in Australia to address violence against women.
Speaking at a White Ribbon Day event at Parliament House in Canberra, Mr Turnbull said every man who respected his wife or partner sets an example for the young males in their lives.
"That is absolutely critically important. We can genuinely change the culture," he said.
"The answer lies within all of us men to make this change.
"We have to lead by example and the most important place to lead by example is with our children and our grandchildren."
Mr Turnbull reiterated his view that not all disrespect of women ended up in violence against women.
But that was where all violence against women began.
"And so at the root of this is respect for women: teaching our children, all of us respect, is absolutely critical."
The prime minister said White Ribbon Day was a time to pay a special tribute to the victims of domestic violence, past and present, who had borne "the burden of our failure to act for too long".
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten used the occasion to announce that a Labor government would include five days paid domestic and family violence leave in the National Employment Standards.
The NES provide a statutory baseline for all employees covered by the national workplace relations system.
Labor will work with unions and business to discuss the rollout of the leave.
Mr Shorten noted a number of employers already provide domestic and family violence leave, including Telstra, NAB, Virgin Australia, IKEA and Blundstone Boots for 1.6 million workers.
Domestic violence victim blaming rampant: report
Research commissioned by the federal government for an upcoming campaign against domestic violence indicates victim blaming is rampant among Australians.
Unconscious victim blaming is "firmly entrenched" among Australians when discussing domestic violence, federal government research shows.
Despite strong community support for ending domestic violence, the report by market research group TNS found Australians are taught from childhood to understate the severity of family violence.
It also found males escaped blame for domestic abuse.
The report has been released to coincide with White Ribbon Day, which raises awareness about domestic abuse.
It found young men were taught to blame others for violence, while young women internalised the experience by blaming themselves.
It argued there is "little empathy towards the female experience" within the community.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull labelled the findings "utterly unacceptable" and said addressing disrespect would be at the heart of any domestic violence policy.
"The fact that it occurs within a relationship makes it no less violence than violence that occurs on the streets," Mr Turnbull said.
"These attitudes have to change. These are big cultural changes we need to effect."
Social Services Minister Christian Porter said the research indicated Australians had not recognised their role in perpetuating cycles of violence.
The study, which surveyed 1000 Australians between the ages of 10 and 25, found girls excused aggressive behaviour as men just wanting a bit of attention.
Males excused the behaviour as men wanting to be heard.
"Too often, adults believe that disrespectful and aggressive behaviour among young males towards young females is some form of rite of passage that should be understood rather than judged," Mr Porter said.
The federal government intends to use the research for a $30 million national campaign, due to start in 2016.
Minister for Women, Michaelia Cash, said the findings would help policymakers understand how patterns of gender-based disrespect and violence are established.
"The campaign aims to equip influencers to help break the cycle," Senator Cash said.
One in three Australian women will experience physical violence at the hands of a partner over their lifetime.
Australian of the Year Rosie Batty and Governor-General Peter Cosgrove will also speak out against domestic abuse at a White Ribbon Day event in Melbourne on Wednesday.
Ms Batty has been an active campaigner against domestic violence since her son Luke was killed by his father while at cricket training in Melbourne last year.
* National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple-zero.
