The first annual update on the progress of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children will be handed to parliament today, but community legal centres and crossbench MPs say the government's response doesn't address key issues. 

The national plan outlines how state, territory and commonwealth governments intend to end violence against women within a generation.

Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Justine Elliot spoke to the report in the House of Representatives this morning prior to it being tabled and available to the public.

"Fear of violence should not be a normal nor accepted part of womanhood," she said.

"Since coming to government, we have worked tirelessly to help end violence against women and children and drive towards gender equality."

But just upstairs from the chamber, lawyers from community legal centres said their cries for increased funding for frontline services weren't being met with a response.

Arlia Fleming from Community Legal Centres Australia and the Central Tablelands and Blue Mountains Community Legal Centre said without an urgent injection of funding, centres will soon be turning more people away.

"Things are going to get drastically worse," she said.

Ms Fleming said she was frustrated by the government's statement in response to the update, as community legal centres already turn away two women for every one they can support.

"We need double the funding in the next national partnership agreement, we need $270 million to fund Community Legal Centres across Australia ... it is really devastating to turn away women who are approaching our centres for help.

"We don't know what happens to those women."

Assistant minister addresses parliament but frontline workers disappointed

In her response to the DFSV Commissioner's first update to parliament, Justine Elliot said the government is committed to ensuring women are safe.

"We have placed a particular focus on tackling economic insecurity, because poverty is not just a factor in violent relationships, it's something that traps women in violent situations.

"That's why we've legislated 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave. We've expanded the single parenting payment, which is benefiting more than 91,000 Australians."

The government also made the leaving violence program permanent, giving those escaping a violent partner access to $5,000 in combined controlled spending and cash.

But the program has been criticised by the sector for not protecting those fleeing other family members and by women with disability — who are among the most vulnerable — and not helping those fleeing carers.

Ms Elliot said tackling the crisis is a priority for the government. 

"We're listening to the experts, identifying where the gaps are, and acting with urgency, because an opportunity missed can mean a life lost."

Before entering politics, Ms Elliot was a police officer and worked with families affected by horrific violence.

"So many have been advocating for change for years.

"Indeed, one of the first times I spoke in this chamber was on International Women's Day in 2005 and in speaking about gender based violence, I said these are not just women's issues, they're also community issues."

But community legal centres say they're not being heard.

Arlia Fleming said the sector urgently needs the government to double its funding to $270 million, with a dedicated $95 million for addressing domestic, sexual and family violence.

"We are overburdened, it is a national crisis, and we need that support."

Ms Fleming said it would be unethical to take on cases if they can't give them certainty on whether they'll be able to afford to follow through.

"We're going to have to start looking at what we actually are able to do with the remaining amount of funding, and that means not renewing contracts.

"It also means looking at winding back services, winding down our outreaches and starting to think really realistically about what we can continue to offer to our communities, and it actually undermines community trust in our service."

Independents and Greens join call for funding by Mid-Year Financial Outlook 

Independent MP and former family law barrister Zali Steggall was disappointed in the government's response to the update.

"What was stark and missing from that speech was a commitment and an acknowledgement of the lack of funding for frontline services and community legal services."

She said the government's response to the commissioner's update lacks follow through.

"There is no point on making a fine speech about worrying about the future, about culture change, if you don't address the levers you can pull right now.

"The call to the government, to the treasurer, is if you are genuine in tackling this crisis, you must follow through on this funding requirement by MYEFO to ensure women and children fleeing violence can access legal services and ensure they can engage with the legal system."

Ms Steggall was joined by some of her colleagues from the crossbench, including WA independent MP Kate Chaney who formerly worked in a community legal centre.

"I know how hard it can be, and the situation at the moment is that community legal centres are having to choose who gets that access to justice, because they have to turn away two people for every one person that they can support."

"The government's response this morning to an update on how we're going against family and domestic violence, lacked addressing this fundamental issue of legal representation."