On 25 November 2015 the Senate referred the following matters to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee (the committee) for inquiry and report by 24 August 2016:

(a) the role of gender inequality in all spheres of life in contributing to the prevalence of domestic violence;

(b) the role of gender stereotypes in contributing to cultural conditions which support domestic violence, including, but not limited to, messages conveyed to children and young people in:

(i) the marketing of toys and other products,

(ii) education, and

(iii) entertainment;

(c) the role of government initiatives at every level in addressing the underlying causes of domestic violence, including the commitments under, or related to, the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children; and

(d) any other related matters.