The NSW premier says his inquiry into child abuse will have all the powers of a royal commission. Source: AAP
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell is standing by his decision to hold a special Hunter-based inquiry into child sex abuse by Catholic clergy, as pressure for a royal commission continues to mount.
Mr O'Farrell on Monday defended his Hunter-focused inquiry, announced on Friday in response to a local NSW police officer's claims that police and the church had hindered his investigations.
He said the inquiry would have all the powers of a royal commission and would investigate wide-ranging cover-up allegations.
His comments came as 3443 supporters signed an online petition calling on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to "take immediate action to establish a royal commission" into child abuse by the clergy.
Mr O'Farrell said he understood calls for a national inquiry but could only act along state lines.
"There's enough on the public record to show that from time to time people have been moved interstate when issues about pedophilia have arisen, so I understand the motivation, (but) I'm going to do what's within my power," he told reporters.
The barrister appointed to lead the inquiry, NSW deputy senior crown prosecutor Margaret Cunneen, was the "best possible person" to do so and would investigate "not just allegations of a police cover-up but activities in the church that might have contributed to a cover-up".
The NSW Greens say they would welcome a national inquiry but the states must implement their own state-based royal commissions.
They also want Mr O'Farrell to launch a statewide inquiry to examine abuse and cover-up claims from elsewhere in NSW.
"Any royal commission in New South Wales that's limited just to the Hunter Valley, just to interactions between the church and police, is not going to satisfy victims," Greens MP David Shoebridge said.
The issue was reignited after Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox penned an open letter last week to the premier alleging cover-ups by the clergy and police after spending decades investigating clergy abuse around Newcastle.
Insp Fox described the scope of Mr O'Farrell's inquiry as "embarrassing".
"He has put such restrictive boundaries on it ... it's embarrassing, it's nothing about what we asked for," he told ABC radio on Monday.
Meanwhile, Fairfax Media on Monday reported claims by a psychologist who said she had met dozens of child abuse victims and that three-quarters of the Brothers from the St John of God order were suspected to be involved in the scandal.
The terms of reference for the special commission of inquiry are due to be released mid-week.
Mr O'Farrell has previously indicated that the inquiry could be broadened beyond the Hunter region if Ms Cunneen deems it appropriate.
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