When Prime Minister Tony Abbott stepped up to the lectern to announce his commitment to tackle the scourge of domestic violence on Wednesday, some of his words had a familiar ring.
As Mr Abbott announced he would ask state and territory leaders to agree on a national scheme for domestic violence orders, those who work in the field could have been forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu.
The scheme, which has been discussed by governments since 2010, was included in a a national plan to reduce violence against women and their children which Mr Abbott launched last June. Two other measures which Mr Abbott committed to on Wednesday – national standards for intervening against perpetrators of violence, and work to improve online safety – were also included in the plan.
Greens Senator Larissa Waters suggested Mr Abbott's announcement was designed to deflect attention from criticism of his decision to award a knighthood to Prince Philip on Australia Day, which partly overshadowed domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty being named Australian of the Year.
"I'm pleased that he's hastily realising that domestic violence does warrant attention," Senator Waters said. "I'm disappointed though that the announcement he made this morning is actually a four-year-old announcement. We would like to see some commitment by the PM to genuinely tackle domestic violence rather than re-announcing an old policy to cover up a gaffe he made."
Labor welcomed Mr Abbott's announcement, but pointed to his earlier commitment to a national domestic violence order scheme.
Domestic violence advocates and service providers welcomed the fresh element of Mr Abbott's announcement, the creation of an advisory panel which will include Ms Batty and retiring Victorian Police Commissioner Ken Lay, and many said they were encouraged by his commitment to tackling domestic violence, which he said was "stalking too many households in our country".
"Something like one in three Australian women has suffered violence in a domestic context through her lifetime," Mr Abbott said. "Every week, one Australian woman dies as a result of domestic violence."
But some advocates said Abbott government cuts to legal and housing services were undermining efforts to prevent violence and support victims.
Michael Smith, the chairman of the National Association of Community Legal Centres said community legal services were losing $20 million in Commonwealth funding over the next two years.
"Family violence is about a third of all the work that community legal centres are doing across the country, so it's a little bit hollow to talk about family violence being a national priority while you're cutting funding out of these services," he said.
Australia's Ambassador for Women and Girls Natasha Stott Despoja praised Mr Abbott's commitment but cautioned that the "proof will be in the pudding".
But Ms Stott Despoja, also the founding chairperson of the Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children, said that more broadly, "ongoing and increased commitments" of resources were needed to tackle domestic violence.
Julie Oberin, the chairwoman of the Women's Services Network, urged Mr Abbott to commit to extending beyond June a homelessness funding agreement with states and territories which supports many services for families escaping violence.
"Women are increasingly seeking help and support and they're increasingly being turned away because services are full. Now is not the time to cut funding," Ms Oberin said.
Marie Coleman of the National Foundation for Australian Women said the nation could not effectively tackle domestic violence unless services such as refuges and community legal services were adequately funded.
"Fine words cut no ice," Mrs Coleman said. "If you don't have crisis services, if you don't have legal aid, you will have women dying."
