Cardinal Pell, the Vatican’s third most senior official, has secured Allan Myers QC, for his highly anticipated appearance at the the Royal Commission into institutional child sexual abuse in Melbourne on December 14.

It is believed the Catholic Church will foot the bill for Mr Myers’s services, at an estimated cost of up to $20,000 a day.

Ballarat survivors group spokesman Andrew Collins said while everybody had a right to legal representation the costs were “obscene.”

“Victims didn't get that amount of money to represent themselves,” Mr Collins said. “It would be better to put that money towards helping victims especially those who are are really in need. To spend up to $100,000 on legal fees in a week is completely obscene.”

Mr Collins said it further demonstrated the divide between Cardinal Pell and victims of sexual abuse.

“It just shows how out of touch he is with the survivors,” Mr Collins. “Even just $20,000 would make a massive difference to the life of a survivor who can’t afford to support themselves but he is willing to spend that in one day for a QC.”

Mr Myers is one of Australia’s highest profile barristers. He has previously represented Kerry Stokes, Gina Rinehart, BHP Billiton and Citibank and has an estimated net worth of more than $680 million.

The revelation comes as Victoria Police plan a major security operation for the appearance of Cardinal Pell.

He is expected to be joined by Bishop Ronald Mulkearns at the hearing, which will focus on authorities' role in child sexual abuse.

Cardinal Pell will give evidence at the hearing, following allegations he bribed one victim to stay silent about abuse at the hands of disgraced priest Gerard  Ridsdale and dismissed another's abuse claims, both of which he denies.