Porter seeks 'final advice' on release of commission's Pell findings

Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter has sought "final advice" about releasing unpublished royal commission findings into the conduct of Australia's most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell.

Mr Porter said he sought the advice after being told by his Victorian counterpart, Jill Hennessy, that there were no legal barriers to making public the previously redacted findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Cardinal George Pell arriving at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd in Sydney after being freed.Credit: AAP

"I have sought final advice from my department on the release of the documents and will proceed upon receipt of that advice which I expect as soon as possible,'' he said.

Mr Porter's comments suggest the release of the material is imminent. Although royal commission findings must be tabled in Parliament, this can be done without Parliament sitting.

Ms Hennessy wrote to Mr Porter on Monday telling him there are no investigations by Victoria Police or planned prosecutions that require the findings to remain hidden from view.

The advice clears the way for the federal government to make public the royal commission findings examining Cardinal Pell's knowledge of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests when he was in the Ballarat diocese, the centre of clerical abuse in Australia.

"The removal of redactions is entirely a matter for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse," a state government spokeswoman said.

"The government is not aware of any impediments to the unredacted versions of these reports being tabled and published at this time."

The release of 60 pages of redacted royal commission findings is the next step in the saga of Cardinal Pell, who was this month acquitted in the High Court over the alleged sexual assault of two 13-year-old choirboys when he was Archbishop of Melbourne.

The section of the royal commission final report detailing Cardinal Pell's time in Ballarat and when he might have first learned that paedophile priests such as Gerald Ridsdale were preying on children in the diocese was suppressed to prevent any findings from having a prejudicial impact on the criminal proceedings against him.

Cardinal Pell was convicted in December 2018 by a County Court jury of five historical child sex offences and the verdict upheld by a majority decision of the Victorian Court of Appeal.

When the High Court overturned that decision, ruling unanimously that the verdict was not open to the jury on the evidence and ordering that his conviction be quashed, Premier Daniel Andrews immediately called on the federal government to authorise the release of the royal commission findings.

In response, Mr Porter wrote to Ms Hennessy asking whether there were any matters still before police or the Office of Public Prosecutions that would prevent the findings being released.

Cardinal Pell, who provided testimony to the royal commission from Rome, has steadfastly denied knowing when he was in Ballarat about the sexual abuse of children by Ridsdale and other priests or that paedophile priests were moved from the diocese in response to complaints against them.

If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or beyondblue 1300 224 636.