Small business workers who experience domestic and family violence will receive 10 days of paid leave, but there are calls for the Australian government to do more.
A spike in the number of women being murdered has been labelled a national disgrace.
The paid leave provisions for small businesses match entitlements rolled out across large companies earlier this year.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the changes meant people no longer had to choose between work and dealing with violence.
"It is an important step towards our goal to end violence against women and children," she told parliament.
Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said a spate of domestic violence incidents was shocking, with 38 deaths in the first 30 weeks of 2023.
"That is a national disgrace and frankly we're not talking about it nearly enough," Ms Ley said.
"More Australians have had a meaningful debate about Barbie versus Oppenheimer than about respectful relationships and stopping domestic violence.
"We all need to do better."
One woman is murdered by their current or former partner across Australia each week.
Amanda Alford from domestic violence prevention advocacy group Our Watch said the leave measures were an important step.
“Workplaces have an opportunity and a requirement to take a leadership role in preventing violence against women and girls," she said.
“Many businesses are already taking a leadership role in this space by comprehensively tackling the drivers of violence against women: gender inequality and rigid gender stereotypes, including in their workplaces."
Ms Rishworth said domestic violence did not discriminate.
"This year alone, we've already seen too many lives lost to family and domestic violence," she said.
"One life lost is one too many.
"These are women of every age from every cultural background, with different jobs and levels of education or income, living in different areas, living different lives."
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