A push by the NSW Greens to expand mandatory child sex abuse reporting laws to churches could be supported by some Nationals, a senior minister says.
The government is to vote on legislation making failure to report child sex abuse illegal, but the Greens argue the proposed laws don't go far enough because religious clergy remain exempt.
Police Minister Troy Grant expects the amendment could garner support from some Nationals, given the party passed a motion calling for such measures at its annual conference in Cowra last week.
"I absolutely could see them supporting that, particularly because they gave support to that at conference," Mr Grant told AAP.
The proposed laws would impose a maximum of two years jail for failing to report abuse, however clergy, legal and health professionals are exempt without special approval from the Attorney General.
Greens MP David Shoebridge is expected to move an amendment to the legislation in the state's upper house, removing protection for the church.
But Australia's Catholic bishops have already rejected moves by other states to force priests to break the seal of confession to reveal child abuse.
The South Australian church has declared its priests will defy new mandatory reporting laws in that state, while the Archbishop of Hobart Julian Porteous on Wednesday said he backs mandatory reporting but not when it means breaking the seal of confession.
Under canon law, a priest who breaks the seal of confession would be excommunicated from the church.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has told Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that breaking the seal wouldn't make any children safer because "perpetrators of this terrible sin very rarely seek out confession".
AAP understands the NSW government was considering on Wednesday evening making changes to the legislation that would take the discretion away from the Attorney General, and give it to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution.
Mr Shoebridge said while that was a minor improvement because "it takes some of the politics out," he believes there should be absolutely no protection for priests refusing to disclose child sex abuse.
Mr Grant, a former Major Crime Squad officer within the Child Protection Unit, uncovered a litany of child sex crimes within the Catholic Church during the 1990s.
Nationals leader and Deputy Premier John Barilaro also supported the motion.
It is understood parliament could vote on the laws on Wednesday night.
