The Federal Opposition has promised to set up a National Redress Scheme that would see 60,000 Australian victims of child sex abuse in institutions able to seek compensation under a future Labor government.

Labor is pledging $33 million to fund the scheme, one of the key recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Of that money, $13 million would go towards compensation and $20 million for a national agency to set up the scheme, which would also include counselling and psychological care.

It reflects a fraction of the estimated $4 billion in combined liabilities of a full redress scheme, to be covered mostly by institutions and state governments.

Labor's families and payments spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said the Commonwealth's liability is likely to be very small and groups like churches and not-for-profit groups should pay the bulk of compensation.

"Most Australians would agree that those who have been responsible for this outrageous abuse to children over many many years should be held to account and pay the redress that people so desperately deserve," Ms Macklin told Radio National.

"It is true the Commonwealth will have some responsibility, possibly for abuse that may have happened in the territories a long time ago when the Commonwealth was still responsible."

Under the royal commission's $4 billion proposal, an estimated 60,000 abuse survivors would receive payments of between $10,000 and $200,000.

The commission report states non-government groups are liable for $2.75 billion in compensation and state governments $1.25 billion.

On top of that, it calls on the federal and state governments to set aside $613 million for "funder of last resort" funding, which would be required when responsible institutions no longer exist or have no assets.

The Opposition's announcement pre-empts a response from the Government, which is still considering the royal commission's recommendations.

The commission calls for the Commonwealth to announce by the end of this year if it is willing to establish a single national redress scheme.

"The Government is carefully considering the royal commission's recommendations and will consult with state and territories before committing to a response," a spokesman for Attorney-General George Brandis said.