• one woman is killed every nine days by a current or former intimate partner149 • one in six women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner150 • one in four women have experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner151 and • intimate partner violence is a leading contributor to illness, disability and premature death for women aged 18-44.152 109. Women and girls faced particular challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased risk of violence at home.153 110. The Commission welcomed the $600 million invested by the Australian Government in the 2021–22 budget to address family violence. Additional positive steps taken by the Australian Government include introducing a minimum standard for domestic violence leave, 154 and prioritising women and children who are escaping family violence in the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement.155 111. The Commission also notes the significance of the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children 2010–2022 and that the development of a subsequent National Plan is currently underway.156 The next plan should cover all forms of gender-based violence including domestic and family violence, sexual violence, online violence, gendered based elder abuse and sexual harassment. Children and young people should be recognised as victim/survivors of domestic and family violence in their own right, and their voices should be heard in the design of policy and service systems. The Commission emphasises the importance of prevention and early intervention measures to address family and domestic violence. 112. Sexual harassment is also prevalent in Australia, including workplaces and university settings. The Commission’s 2018 National Survey on sexual harassment found that 33% of people who had been in the workforce in the previous five years said they had experienced workplace sexual harassment.157 113. The Commission’s Respect@Work report identified drivers and impacts of workplace sexual harassment, the adequacy of the current legal framework and measures to address this issue.158 The Commission welcomes legislative reforms introduced in 2021and 2022 to implement key recommendations of the report, and the Australian Government’s commitment to implement all 55 recommendations of the report.159 26