Family violence victims are being promised mandatory jail for their abusers and more social housing by Victoria's major parties.
Sticking to their tough law-and-order agenda, the Liberal-Nationals opposition on Wednesday promised mandatory prison ranging from two to six years, for three different family violence-related offences.
"There are literally thousands of breaches of family violence orders, mostly against women and children, that go on every year," shadow attorney-general John Pesutto told reporters.
"We're dealing with an epidemic in our system."
The government took a different tact, announcing 1000 public housing properties worth $209 million, in line with recommendations from the state's 2015 family violence royal commission.
"No woman and her children should have to stay in an abusive, violent relationship because there is not suitable accommodation for her and her kids to get away," Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters.
There would be 800 one- and two-bedroom homes and 200 three-bedroom homes built in Geelong, Ballarat, Darebin, Maribyrnong, Stonnington and Whitehorse council areas helping people dealing with homelessness or fleeing family violence.
There are more than 82,000 people on the social housing waiting list, according to the Victorian Council of Social Service.
VCOSS chief Emma King backed the promise, but both she and Mr Andrews said more could be done if the federal government got involved.
"Along with our colleagues in community sector organisations, we have been meeting with the federal government for some time to advocate about the need for the federal government to work with the state government," Ms King said.
But the federal government has said "not a lot" in response, Ms King told reporters.
There are 38 days until the state election and Labor has two legal headaches to deal with.
The preselection of former emergency services minister Jane Garrett to the upper house is being challenged by a United Firefighters Union member in the Supreme Court on Thursday.
And on Wednesday the Herald Sun reported government MPs had been requested by Victoria Police to be interviewed over Labor's rorts scandal during the 2014 campaign.
Last election Labor diverted nearly $388,000 in parliamentary allowances to some campaign staff, an Ombudsman investigation found.
Labor has repaid the money and Mr Andrews would not comment on the police investigation on Wednesday.
COALITION'S MANDATORY MINIMUM JAIL TERMS
* Contravening a family violence orders intending to cause harm or fear - two years' jail
* Persistent contravention of a family violence notice would - three years' jail
* Non-fatal choking and suffocation (to be made a specific crime) - six years' jail
Australian Associated Press
