Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has written to every school principal across Australia urging them to help stamp out bullying and violence, both online and inside the school gates.

Key points: PM and Education Minister sent joint letter to all principals

PM and Education Minister sent joint letter to all principals Letter comes in wake of report that detailed violent behaviour and hazing in university colleges around Australia

Letter comes in wake of report that detailed violent behaviour and hazing in university colleges around Australia Simon Birmingham says university students subject to violent hazing should go to police

The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is later in March, and the letter penned by Mr Turnbull and Education Minister Simon Birmingham said schools, parents and families all had a role in ending bullying.

"We believe all students have the right to be safe at school," the letter said.

"Bullying and violence has no place in Australia."

The death of 14-year-old Northern Territorian Amy 'Dolly' Everett after alleged bullying has focused the minds of the nation's politicians, and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk successfully put the issue of cyber bullying on the COAG agenda.

"Malcolm and Lucy both spent time speaking with Dolly's parents and truly engaged in talking to them to understand the circumstances that she had faced, and indeed as a grandparent to young children, he is very touched by this issue," Senator Birmingham told AM.

"Now, what can we do? Well, there's no single silver bullet."

The letter has been sent during a period of broader debate about student safety across Australia, in the wake of a damning report into the culture of the nation's residential colleges.

Authors of the Red Zone report detailed horrific examples of alleged violent behaviour and hazing across the country.

Universities have been criticised for their response to the incidents, because they argue their ability to control independent residential colleges is constrained.

Sorry, this video has expired Simon Birmingham says the report shows more needs to be done to address violent hazing.

Senator Birmingham said students subjected to violent hazing should go to police.

"Assault is assault as I said, and we have laws in place and we ought to make sure that people aren't just threatened or fined or sanctioned in a polite way for instances of assault," Senator Birmingham said.

"That's what we have criminal sanctions and charges for, and they ought to be pursued.

"The message has to be very, very clear that zero tolerance will be applied in terms of instances of assault on campuses, and that universities will help students go to the police or help students take action to make sure that this culture is changed."

The Federal Opposition is warning residential colleges to clean up their act, and for the university sector stop shirking responsibility for the wellbeing of students.

"These students are residents of the colleges, but they are students of the university," Ms Plibersek told ABC RN.

"For the universities to say 'we're powerless to protect them' is just not good enough."

Ms Plibersek said stories of violence and hazing were rife when she was a student 30 years ago.

"It seems like so little has changed," Ms Plibersek said.

"The idea that you can send your 18- or 19-year-old son or daughter off to college … and suddenly they're fair game for older students in particular, and in some cases staff, is completely unacceptable."

Ms Plibersek said there was scope for some form of national framework to ensure colleges were complying with standards.