“Persistent" child sex abusers will face a maximum life sentence as part of a raft of legal changes announced by the NSW government today.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Attorney General Mark Speakman introduced the reforms, putting the state ahead in its response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse.

But she stopped short of pushing for state laws to break the seal of confession.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Attorney General Mark Speakman introduced the reforms today. (AAP) (AAP)

“There is nothing more important than for a government to protect children,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“These historic reforms are designed to deliver survivors the justice they deserve and impose tougher penalties on offenders for their appalling abuse of children.”

Ms Berejiklian said the reforms - which implement more than 50 of the Commission's recommendations - will tighten laws, “making sure NSW is not leaving any stone unturned”.

Among the key changes will be new offences for failure to report and protect at-risk children.

Under the reforms, 'persistent' child sex abusers will face a maximum life sentence in jail. Picture: AAP. (AAP)

While leaders of institutions will be targeted under the new law, it will not directly tackle the seal of confession.

The seal of confession prohibits priests in the Catholic church from disclosing anything they learn in the confessional, including child abuse.

“Our report laws will cover every adult, no matter what their occupation background. That includes priests,” Mr Speakman said.

“However, there is a religious confession privilege in uniform legislation that applies to the majority of states and territories.”

Instead, the Premier and the Attorney General said the seal of confession should be approached at a national level.

“They are complex issues which need to be balanced with what people perceive to be religious freedoms,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“We believe it is beyond the boundaries of any one state.”

The new legislation will also ensure victims of child sexual abuse will no longer need to prove the specific circumstances of assaults.

Gladys Berejiklian said the new laws "will make sure NSW is not leaving any stone unturned". (AAP)

“The problem with the law at the moment is a need to demonstrate specific times or places. We are changing that,” Mr Speakman said.

“What you will have to prove is an ongoing sexual relationship that could be constituted by two or more circumstances.”

Under the new legislation, New South Wales courts sentencing individuals over historic child sex offences will be required to work to contemporary sentencing standards, as opposed to historical standards.

Offenders whose "good character" played a part in "facilitating the offending" will no longer have that "good character" considered.

The state government also introduced two additional charges: grooming an adult to access a child and sexual touching of a child aged 16 or 17 who is under the offender’s special care.

Mr Speakman said the reforms represent an improvement in how the legal system responds to child sexual abuse.

“The Royal Commission has generated unprecedented community understanding of child sexual abuse and the harm it causes,” he said.

“It is vital we strengthen our laws so they better reflect community expectations, protect children, and help survivors find justice.”