It comes more than a year after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse claimed that Bishop Newell – who was Bishop of the Diocese of Tasmania from 1982-2000 – had not encouraged alleged victims of sexual abuse in the Church of England Boys’ Society to report to the police.

In the royal commission’s hearings, it was also revealed that a known sexual offender within the church, priest Louis Daniels – who has since been convicted for his crimes - was promoted two years after Bishop Newell had become aware of the allegations against him.

Bishop Newell told the royal commission he only promoted Daniels after receiving an assurance that he had “amended his life”.

The bishop said he was certain he had suggested alleged victims report abuse claims to the police but acknowledged that he should have reported it to the police himself.

Bishop Newell resigned his licence to conduct services in early 2016.

Current Anglican Bishop Richard Condie has now announced that a diocesan tribunal has been established to examine the matter of Bishop Newell’s conduct relating to historical complaints.

It follows Bishop Condie’s move to commence initial proceedings against Bishop Newell in early 2017.

On Thursday, Bishop Condie said the matter pertaining to Bishop Newell was “progressing”.

“Under our ministry and tribunal ordinance I had the matter assessed and I have recently received the report from the assessors,” he said.

“I will report to [the public] further in due course.”

The diocesan tribunal consists of a president (the bishop), a deputy president, one clerical member and one lay member.

Former Supreme Court chief justice Ewan Crawford will have “carriage” of the tribunal.

Earlier in the week, Tasmania’s Anglican Diocese announced it would be selling more than 120 of its properties in order to fund its planned contribution to the national redress scheme for survivors of insitutitional child sexual abuse.