The $30-million ‘Stop it at the Start’ advertising campaign challenges people to question their views about respectful relationships and gender equality. 

The federal and state governments have funded the initiative.

Mr Broad, a founding member of Parliamentarians Against Family Violence, said the campaign was about starting conversations about violent attitudes and behaviour. 

“Family violence is a widespread issue that affects many Australians,” he said.

“The statistics are shocking – every week a woman is murdered by her current or former partner. 

“One in three women has been a victim of physical or sexual violence, from the age of 15, at the hands of someone they know. 

“These women are our sisters, daughters, mothers and friends.” 

Mr Broad said violent attitudes and behaviours were ingrained early in life.

“We sometimes say and do things, perhaps without thinking, that can have a real impact on young people,” he said.

“Casual comments like ‘boys will be boys’ can teach boys that it’s alright to act out. 

“Telling girls ‘he just does it because he likes you’ can teach them to accept disrespectful behaviour.

“These attitudes, unchecked, can escalate overtime leaving a girl thinking that it’s not serious if a normally gentle man slaps her when he is drunk or when they are arguing.

“Our words are equally as powerful as our actions and can normalise unacceptable behaviour.”

Mr Broad urged people to talk openly about the issue. 

“We need to think more about what we say and do,” he said.

“We need to intervene and correct this behaviour in young people when we witness it. 

“We need to teach our boys what it really means to be a man and raise our girls with the self-worth to recognise and reject disrespect.” 

​The campaign is part of the government’s Women’s Safety Package announced last year.