Lucy Turnbull the new ­ambassador for Our Watch group

Lucy Turnbull says she wants a new society, and last night the PM’s wife opened Kirribilli House to drive her point home.

Natasha Stott Despoja, left, and Lucy Turnbull attending an Our Watch event at Kirribilli House, Sydney. Photograph: Rick Stevens

Lucy Turnbull says she wants a new society, and last night the Prime Minister’s wife opened Kirribilli House to drive her point home.

With an election to be called within days, Mrs Turnbull told guests, including Australia’s ­ambassador for women and girls, Natasha Stott Despoja, that she wanted to help drive cultural change and “build a society that is known for its respect for women”.

Accepting a role as an ­ambassador for the group Our Watch — one of the first she has accepted since her husband became Prime Minister — Mrs Turnbull said: “Victims of domestic violence have suffered in ­silence for too long.”

She said there had been a transformation in attitudes in the past couple of years but this had to ­become permanent cultural change. She urged women to ­ensure that “your brothers and boyfriends and everyone in your family respects you”.

“Don’t date a boy who doesn’t respect you,” she said.

Our Watch was set up in 2013 and is a joint effort of the federal, Victorian, Northern Territory, South Australian, Tasmanian and Queensland governments. It is dedicated to raising awareness and developing policy to prevent violence to women and children.

Tuesday’s federal budget allocated an extra $100 million — some of it previously announced — to commonwealth programs to combat family violence. Mrs Turnbull joins other Our Watch ambassadors including TV presenter Julia Zemiro, novelist Tara Moss, 2015 Australian of the Year Rosie Batty and TV presenter Charlie Pickering.

Ann O’Neill, the founder of a not-for-profit body called angelhands, which assists victims of trauma, told the gathering it was a “pivotal time” in the debate about domestic violence. “Over the last two years, in particular, we have started to make headway in the public’s understanding of violence against women — its prevalence, dynamics and what the evidence says drives it,” she said.

But the work was far from over and people had to stand up for survivors, gender equality and non-violence: “It’s only then that Australian women and their children will live free from fear.”

For support on issues relating to sexual assault or domestic violence call 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.ORG.AU