Former Australian model and TV performer Monique Denahy - "beautiful, vivacious and kind, always laughing, always positive" - carried a terrible burden.

Trapped in a violent relationship on the other side of the world, the 49-year-old had decided to leave her abusive husband and return to Australia.

It was a trip the mother of two, who grew up in Geelong, Victoria, would never make, as family friend and federal MP Sarah Henderson told Parliament late on Tuesday night, her voice shaking.

"Three days ago, Monique was murdered," Ms Henderson told the House of Representatives in a speech urging greater action on domestic violence.

"She was murdered by her American partner in the US. It was a deliberate and calculated murder-suicide.

"Monique had decided to leave the relationship and return to Australia, but she never made it home."

US police told Fairfax media Daniel Millner, 55, shot his wife dead on Saturday in their home in Palm Beach County, Florida, then took his own life. The couple had been living in the gated community for about a month.

Fighting back tears, Ms Henderson said her own family was devastated for the Denahys, with whom they remained close.

"This is a crime that always happens to someone else but Monique's death has shown me this is a crime that can touch every family."

The member for the Victorian seat of Corangamite wore a white ribbon on her lapel as she implored others to do the same and take the White Ribbon pledge against family violence on the national awareness day.

"We have to break this cycle of violence, which in many cases has been fuelled by drugs, alcohol, rage, revenge and perverse attitudes by young men who think it's okay to hurt a woman," she said.

"Monique you were a beautiful and gentle soul. Rest in peace."

In her Linkedin profile, Ms Denahy wrote she was born and raised in Geelong and Melbourne.

She says she modelled and worked in radio and television - working on the Channel 7 show Fast Forward - in the 1980s and early 1990s. She left Australia in 1994 for Beijing and Shanghai before moving to New York, then Florida where she had lived for almost 20 years.

On her Facebook page, she said she attended Morongo Girls college in Geelong and studied public relations at Deakin University.

News of her death comes as the nation marks White Ribbon Day, the campaign against domestic violence.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced in September a $100 million package to help women and children at high risk of violence. Mr Turnbull called it "unAustralian" to disrespect women and urged for a "big cultural shift".

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is set to announce on Wednesday that a Labor government would provide five days of domestic violence leave a year.

Mr Shorten said the leave would allow people to access more legal and medical help.

FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT SERVICES:

1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732

Women's Crisis Line: 1800 811 811

Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491

Lifeline (24 hour crisis line): 131 114

Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277

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