Australia’s public broadcaster has agreed to hand over documents which Cardinal George Pell wants to use in his fight against charges of historical sex abuse.

Counsel for Pell, the prosecution, the ABC and the investigative journalist Louise Milligan appeared before Melbourne magistrates court on Thursday.

Pell’s defence team has sent subpoenas to the ABC and Milligan, who this year published the book Cardinal: The Rise and Fall of George Pell.

Pell’s barrister Robert Richter QC said there had been “fruitful discussions” with both the ABC and Milligan.

Magistrate Belinda Wallington has previously said some of the material sought could be subject to journalistic privilege. But Pell’s legal team has said journalistic privilege can be avoided if the ABC and Milligan come to an agreement about the documents they’re willing to disclose.

On Thursday the ABC’s lawyer Haroon Hassan said there would be “staggered compliance” with the subpoena for documents.

“That process is under way,” he told the court.

Milligan’s barrister, Peter Morrissey SC, also indicated his client and Pell’s defence team have come to an agreement. “It’s been resolved,” he said.

The details of the documents which the ABC and Milligan have agreed to exchange were not disclosed in court.

The victims advocacy group Broken Rites has already handed over documents to Pell’s legal team after a subpoena ordered them to do so.

Pell was not required to attend court on Thursday, and will face a four-week committal hearing in March.

The cardinal, who denies the charges, is the highest-ranking Catholic official to be charged with sexual abuse, and the allegations date back decades.

The former Sydney and Melbourne archbishop and Ballarat priest has taken leave from his position as Vatican treasurer to defend himself.

His lawyers will return to court on 10 January for a further administrative update.