New legislation forcing priests to report child abuse to authorities even if disclosed in confession now has enough support to pass through both houses of Victorian Parliament.

The Andrews government introduced the legislation earlier this month compelling priests to break the seal of confession to report disclosures of child abuse, but the Coalition stopped short of supporting it at the time.

However, on Monday Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien revealed he would back the bill.

Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

“The safety of kids has to come first and we’ll be supporting legislation that does that,” he said.