The Australian Greens have successfully established a Senate Inquiry on preventing domestic violence by challenging societal attitudes of gender inequality and rigid gender stereotypes.

The inquiry will also look at how these stereotypes are communicated to children and young people, including through the marketing of toys and other products, as well as media, entertainment and education.

The Australian Greens are calling on the Turnbull Government to factor the Our Watch report on the economic cost of violence against women, released today, into MYEFO and next year's budget.

The report shows violence against women costs the economy $21.7 billion a year and that one million Australian women endured physical or sexual violence, emotional abuse or stalking in the last year.

The Senate has this afternoon supported an Australian Greens' motion marking the 40^th birthday of Brisbane's Women's House - Queensland's oldest women's shelter.

"Women's House has saved the lives of many Queensland women and children over its 40 years," Senator Larissa Waters, the Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said.

"We are fortunate to have Australia's oldest independent women's shelter in our state, which I have had the opportunity to visit to learn about its eventful history and the invaluable work it carries on today.

The Senate has narrowly defeated a Turnbull Government motion opposing Greens' state and territory legislation for exclusion zones outside abortion clinics to stop anti-choice protesters intimidating women.

"It's alarming that the Senate was only just able to defeat this appalling motion from the Turnbull Government," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said.

"Senator Canavan, who put forward the motion, has tried to pass this off as a freedom of speech issue but this is an issue of safe, accessible healthcare and women's rights. 

To close the superannuation gender gap the Turnbull Government needs to help all women, not just those who can afford to top up their super, say the Australian Greens.

 Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for women, who has co-sponsored a Senate Inquiry into women's retirement incomes, said:  

"While it's great the government is looking at options to close the super gender gap, simply encouraging women to top up their super will only help the small number who can afford that.

With Queensland medical experts saying women are travelling to other states to have abortions,  the Palaszczuk Government must get rid of our state's archaic laws that still list abortion as a crime.

Qld Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for women, said:

"Queensland women should not be treated as criminals for wanting control over their own bodies.

"Many Queensland women who want to have an abortion may not have the money to travel to another state where laws reflect the mainstream view that abortion is not a crime.

Reporting of a study by Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety into domestic violence confirms its appalling extent and the need for funding.

"This comprehensive study provides a horrific insight into the awful extent of domestic violence in our country," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for women, said.

"It finds that one in four women have gone through violence inflicted by a partner or former partner, including boyfriends or dates.

The federal Senate has passed an Australian Greens' motion calling for funding for Queensland community legal centres so they can help people in need, especially domestic violence victims.

Queensland Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for women, said:

"The Senate is sending a strong message - it's not OK that Queensland's community legal centres have to turn away two in every three people who approach them for help.

"Funding for community legal centres will fall off a cliff in 2017 - with a planned cut of $12 million.

Older, single women are the new face of homelessness in Australia, as re-confirmed by reporting of Anglicare's State of The Family report today.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, said the trend was a result of gender inequality.

"It's deeply troubling older single women are the new face of homelessness and it's a result of gender inequality," Senator Waters said.  

"Many of these women would have performed the bulk of unpaid caring and domestic work, limiting their workforce participation and ability to accumulate superannuation.  

The Greens are calling for funding gaps for domestic violence front-line services to be filled and for action on long-term affordable housing, as the Ending Violence Against Women Queensland peak body is launched today.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens spokesperson for women, who is attending the launch at Qld Parliament House tonight, said:

"At both the federal and state level, funding gaps exist that mean women who are reaching out for help are not getting the support they need to escape domestic violence.