One of them, the federal MP for Chifley, Roger Price, said there was a misconception that young people were the perpetrators of violence and that in many cases they were victims.

Mr Price was responding to a recent call from a parliamentary committee on families, communities, housing and youth for an inquiry into the effect of violence on the young.

He said the committee was referring to a Mission Australia survey in 2008 of 45,558 Australians aged from 11 to 24 which reported that 22per cent of those surveyed said personal safety was a significant concern. Mr Price said the committee could examine perceptions of violence and safety among young Australians, links between illicit drug use, alcohol abuse and violence, the relationship between bullying and violence and the wellbeing of young Australians.