The Victorian government says there's no need for an inquiry into how details of a police investigation of sexual assault allegations against Cardinal George Pell were leaked to the media.
Cardinal Pell has written to acting Police Minister Robin Scott to ask for an inquiry.
But Treasurer Tim Pallas said an inquiry was not necessary.
"Ultimately we've got royal commissions, we've got police investigations, if you added inquiries into that quite frankly it's a bit like a dog chasing its tail," Mr Pallas told reporters on Monday.
"It's more important that the substance of the issues are determined and the matters are properly before the royal commission and Victoria Police investigations."
Cardinal Pell said it was clear the information the Herald Sun newspaper put to him came from people with close knowledge of the details of the police investigation.
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"The article published by the Herald Sun leads to the conclusion that this information must have come from Victoria Police or another agency working with it," Cardinal Pell said in a statement on Monday.
The article detailed allegations the Cardinal sexually abused between five and 10 boys in Victoria dating back to 1961.
Cardinal Pell has denied the allegations.
Victoria Police said they take allegations of police leaks seriously and have referred the matter to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, IBAC.
They said they would not provide further comment.
