Four months after marie claire 's report, What Kids Learn From Domestic Violence, and three months after we launched the Start Talking To Stop The Violence campaign, the Federal Government says it will introduce changes to the legal system to protect women and children.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland recently removed a ban on lawyers from dispute resolution sessions for couples at Family Relationship Centres, and now plans to give lawyers a bigger role in dealing with domestic disputes.

Other changes include asking states to align their domestic dispute laws and introducing a national register of domestic violence orders, to protect women - and their children - who cross state lines to escape their violent partners.

McClelland has also appointed former Family Court judge Richard Chisholm to conduct a review of the family law system, in the context of domestic violence.

"If it becomes clear that current laws and practices may jeopardise the safety of families and children, we must work together to address these shortcomings," he said.