VICTIMS of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in Victoria have been given new hope of a full scale parliamentary inquiry into the church's handling of the assaults.
It has been revealed an inquiry set up to investigate systemic problems in Victoria's child protection system has been broadened to now tackle sexual abuse within religious organisations.
Protecting Victoria's Vulnerable Children Inquiry chair Philip Cummins informed Attorney General Robert Clark he would widen his inquiry.
While the widening of Mr Cummins' inquiry has stalled an expected government decision about whether to hold a parliamentary inquiry, victims say it is a step in the right direction.
It comes after a string of recent revelations about the church's response to sexual assault complaints mounted growing pressing on the Baillieu Government to launch a formal inquiry.
The inquiry would now consider whether mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse should be extended in relation to religious personnel and whether the requirements of the Working with Children Act 2005 should be broadened in relation to religious authorities.
It would also investigate whether there were doctrines or practices in churches or religious entities in Victoria which operated to deflect or discourage the reporting of child abuse to secular authorities.
A spokesman for Mr Clark said the inquiry could lead the way to a parliamentary inquiry.
"The consideration of these issues by the Cummins Inquiry has the potential to provide valuable findings and recommendations,'' he said.
"The Victorian Coalition Government will await the Inquiry's findings and recommendations on these matters before deciding whether or not there should be any further inquiry.''
Anthony Foster, whose daughters Emma and Katie were abused by Oakleigh priest Father Kevin O'Donnell in the 1980s and 1990s, welcomed the news.
O'Donnell was jailed in 1995 after he admitted abusing 10 boys and two girls over a 31-year period.
"This is a positive step, and it's a step in the right direction, but it certainly doesn't go far enough,'' Mr Foster said.
"We need a Royal Commission into this, and that's what we're fighting for. It's time for true justice for the victims.''
The inquiry is due to report no later than January 27 next year.