PM to press Putin on MH17

Tony Abbott says he will use Vladimir Putin's attendance at the G20 meeting in Brisbane next month to push for Russia's co-operation in seeking justice for victims of MH17.

Barely disguising his disappointment that Australia's efforts to exclude the Russian President from the meeting had failed, the Prime Minister said yesterday there was "much to deplore in Russia's foreign policy".

Mr Abbott acknowledged that many Australians would be upset seeing him shake hands with Mr Putin, given 38 Australians were among the 298 killed on the Malaysia Airlines jet shot down by Russian-backed rebels in July.

"It's not Australia's right to say yes or no to individual members of the G20," Mr Abbott said.

"Russia is a member of the G20 and, as such, we're obliged to accept the Russian leader in this country.

"I think it will be pretty crystal clear that we think that Russia needs to fully co-operate in the investigation into the MH17 atrocity.

"I think it's the world's expectation on Russia that there will be full co-operation with the investigation and there will be a willingness to hand over to police for trial anyone who Russia might have access to who turns out to have played a part in the downing of that aircraft."

Mr Abbott said he did not believe for a moment that Mr Putin wanted MH17 brought down, "but obviously Russian policy has brought about a situation that caused this atrocity to take place".

"So, as I said, what I will be wanting from the Russian President is an assurance from him that he and Russia will do everything they can to ensure that now, at least, justice is done."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Australians would be understandably uncomfortable about hosting Mr Putin after his "disgraceful" behaviour after the downing of MH17 by what is almost certain to have been a Russian-made missile.