On September 22 the Minister for the Status of Women, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, chaired the inaugural meeting of Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers to develop a joint plan to reduce violence against women. The new plan will be a joint plan of action for the Australian Government and all States and Territories to coordinate effort to reduce violence against women. The plan is expected to be finalised in 2010.

The National Plan will build on the expert advice and recommendations of the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, who presented their report Time for Action in April 2009. The report is informed by the views of more than 2,000 Australians including victims, government representatives, legal professionals and the judiciary.

Further reading
• Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021
• Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2009–2021 - A Snapshot
• Background Paper to Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021
• Economic cost of violence against women and their children