MH17 crash probe extended
The Dutch-led investigation into the MH17 crash will be extended by nine months to maximise the chances of bringing the perpetrators to justice.
But Justice Minister Michael Keenan told his international counterparts that Australia would be happy to leave the investigation open even longer.
Mr Keenan has reiterated Australia's commitment to the joint investigation team during high-level meetings in Kiev with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko.
"While member countries have agreed to extend the JIT to August 2015, I emphasised that Australia was determined to work for as long as required to bring those responsible to justice," he said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Australia had information suggesting MH17 was shot down by a missile from a launcher that came from Russia, was fired from Eastern Ukraine and then returned to Russia.
Mr Abbott commended the precedent set by the US when it apologised and paid compensation for shooting down Iran Air Flight 655 in Iranian air space in July 1988, killing 290 people.
The downing of MH17 on July 17 killed 298 people, including 38 Australians.
Mr Putin has been repeatedly asked by world leaders to exercise his influence over rebels in eastern Ukraine to give investigators access to the crash, consistent with United Nations Security Council resolution 2166, sponsored by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
About 35 Australian Federal Police personnel are working in Ukraine and The Hague on the investigation.
Mr Keenan said he used his visit to thank them. "Australia is committed to returning to the crash site, however, the situation near the site remains unstable," he said.
"Any Australian Government decision to return to the site will be a joint decision with our JIT counterparts if and when it is safe to do so. Australia continues to encourage the international community to focus on finding, prosecuting and punishing the perpetrators of this cowardly attack. We owe this to the innocent victims of the MH17 tragedy and their families."
The JIT includes the Netherlands, Ukraine, Australia, Belgium and Malaysia.
