The outgoing governor-general, Peter Hollingworth, will not take legal action to challenge the Anglican Church report findings which led to his resignation.
Dr Hollingworth may also decline to release the QC's opinion that he and the Prime Minister have said supports his view that the church inquiry denied him natural justice.
The report by the inquiry into the Brisbane diocese's handling of child sex abuse complaints described as "untenable" the failure of Dr Hollingworth, as archbishop of Brisbane, to act against a pedophile priest, John Elliot, in the early 1990s.
The report also criticised Dr Hollingworth's unsympathetic treatment of a woman who claimed she was sexually abused by Bishop Donald Shearman in the mid-1950s.
Dr Hollingworth is planning to deliver a televised address to the nation tomorrow or Thursday explaining in detail his decision to resign.
His spokesman, Andrew Reynolds, said Dr Hollingworth would also use the address to reflect on his time as governor-general. Mr Reynolds said Dr Hollingworth was still considering whether to release legal advice saying he was denied natural justice by the Anglican Church inquiry.
The president of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties, Terry O'Gorman, said Dr Hollingworth could seek a declaration from the Queensland Supreme Court that he had been denied natural justice by the inquiry.
Mr O'Gorman said if he does not take legal action, Dr Hollingworth should consider releasing the QC's opinion in his defence.
"That would be appropriate in terms of redressing the media imbalance by explaining why he believes he was denied natural justice," Mr O'Gorman said.
"It is desirable that if he has an opinion that he should take every step to test it."
However, a source close to Dr Hollingworth said he would not be initiating legal action. Dr Hollingworth is also reviewing a decision he made to release the QC's opinion after the rape case he was facing in the Victorian Supreme Court was dealt with.
The case was dropped last Friday when the family of the late Rosemarie Jarmyn, who alleged Dr Hollingworth raped her in the 1960s, decided not to proceed. Dr Hollingworth has strongly denied the allegation.
Mr Reynolds said Dr Hollingworth's attention has been focused on his resignation. He would now turn his attention to his address to the nation this week before considering any moves relating to the inquiry.
Phillip Aspinall, who succeeded Dr Hollingworth as archbishop and commissioned the report, continued his silence on the resignation yesterday.
A source close to Dr Aspinall said the Archbishop had been scrupulous in avoiding any comment on the appropriateness of Dr Hollingworth's conduct.
Meanwhile, the child support group Bravehearts said many child sex abuse victims are contacting the organisation to express relief that Dr Hollingworth has resigned.
The group's director, Hetty Johnston, said she was disappointed Dr Hollingworth's resignation speech made no acknowledgement of his failure to protect abuse victims.
"He doesn't think he's done anything wrong, he still doesn't get it, and we've given up hoping that he ever will get it," Ms Johnston said.
"That aside, the survivors are rejoicing. They feel that their plight was ignored for so long and that at last their claims are being validated.
"Some of them are saying that the healing process can now begin."