A confronting artwork is on display in the halls of Victorian power as the state government concedes more must be done to stop domestic violence.
The Lost Petition, bearing the names of 1007 women and children who lost their lives because of men's violence in Australia since 2008, has been erected in Queen's Hall in the state parliament.
Created by Melbourne-based artist Dans Bain, the unusual petition is more than 30 metres long and notes one woman is murdered each week in Australia at the hands of her current or former partner.
The names of all the victims, current as of the end of August, are scrawled across 12 bedsheets below a call to action.
"We need to see all levels of government improve policies, education and introduce initiatives in an effort to prevent violence against women and children," it reads.
"These women and children can no longer vote, they have unjustly lost their right for representation and to have their voices heard by our government."
The petition was unfurled on the fronts steps of state parliament in February during the Women's March 4 Justice, and then outside federal parliament in Canberra in March.
Premier Daniel Andrews has seen the artwork this week and acknowledged all governments need to do more to stamp out domestic violence.
"Even one act of violence, let alone a tragedy like someone losing their life to intimate partner violence, is completely unacceptable to me and unacceptable to all us," he told reporters on Wednesday.
"It's just a reminder that this work is far from done."
While outlining increased funding to combat family violence in this year's state budget, Mr Andrews said better outcomes for women would only eventuate if men adopted better attitudes.
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