AT LEAST five people killed themselves after allegedly being sexually abused by paedophile priest Ronald Pickering between 1960 and 1980, new research says.

The deaths in Melbourne, uncovered by lawyer Judy Courtin, add to the 40 suicides by victims of clergy paedophiles documented in a police report.

The revelations have forced the Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu, to bring forward plans to respond to the growing church abuse scandal. It is understood the government will announce a broad investigation - potentially with powers to compel witnesses to give evidence - into the criminal abuse of children by religious organisations.

But demands for a full-scale royal commission are unlikely to be met, with the government concerned about the potential cost.

Ms Courtin, who is conducting PhD research for Monash University's law faculty into sexual abuse by the Catholic Church, has uncovered a ''cluster'' of suicides - between five and eight - of suspected victims of Father Pickering, who fled Australia in 1993 before he could be charged.