The $500 million five-year inquiry into how churches, charities and other organisations handled abuse of children has made 189 recommendations.
Sir Peter Cosgrove received the final report from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, with the chair of the royal commission, Justice Peter McClellan, handing over the 17-volume report.
Criminal prosecutions have been launched against a string of alleged abusers during the course of the inquiry.
To avoid prejudicing court proceedings, two versions of the report have been submitted, one redacted and one unredacted.
Some recommendations have already been made and acted upon, including toughening background checks and establishing a redress scheme, which is still in progress.
Refusing compensation to survivors of child abuse who have gone on to commit serious crimes is of serious concern to advocates.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says blocking access to convicted criminals is government policy, but he understands the argument many had landed in jail because of the abuse they had suffered.
"But equally, you can understand how many people would be uncomfortable with and opposed to people who have committed serious offences then being provided compensation by government," he told 3AW radio on Friday.
The prime minister left the door open to revisiting the prohibition as the Commonwealth tries to finalise the redress scheme.
"We are endeavouring to ensure the redress scheme is accepted across the country by states and institutions, we're confident it will be, and obviously we want to get bipartisan support," Mr Turnbull said.
"There is an inquiry that's under way and if people have any submissions they want to make, they can go onto the parliament website, the closing date is February 2."
Labor MP Mark Dreyfus wants "speedy action" by governments on recommendations once the report is released.
"What we now need is to take action ... we should not assume just because thousands of survivors have been able to tell their stories that it's stopped," he told ABC radio.
Opposition families spokeswoman Jenny Macklin, who helped establish the commission with former prime minister Julia Gillard, said it was now up to the Turnbull government to step up.
And she urged all states, as well as the institutions responsible, to be a part of the redress scheme.
Independent senator Derryn Hinch, a longtime warrior against child abuse, says he has been asked by Mr Turnbull to chair a parliamentary committee overseeing the response to the royal commission.
However, Mr Turnbull says no such decision has been made.
"I've spoken to Derryn about all of these issues but the chairmanship of the committee is not something that's been finalised," he said.
"It's the first time the matter's been raised with me, but it may have been discussed with other ministers."
