Churches are being rolled into the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the abuse of children in state care.

Cabinet has today signed off the extended inquiry.

Former Governor General Anand Satyanand says it was strongly argued for during the consultation process.

Submissions in this almost $80 million dollar inquiry will begin in January.

Though the first interim report will focus on children in state care report back in 2020.

A second report will concentrate on those children in faith-based institutions, with the final findings and recommendations going to the Governor General in 2023.