Prime Minister Tony Abbott has stopped short of saying whether Russian president Vladimir Putin should be allowed to visit Australia for the G20 leaders meeting later this year.

There is growing pressure on the Federal Government to take action against the Russian leader, in the wake of the Malaysia Airlines tragedy.

Twenty-eight Australians died on board the flight which was shot down by a ground-to-air missile, killing all 298 passengers and crew.

The Government blames Russian-backed rebels for the attack, and is demanding Russian support for an international investigation into the disaster.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says if that does not happen, Mr Putin should not be allowed to visit.

"If the Russian Federation doesn't cooperate and help us get to the heart of what has really happened in this senseless act of murder, the Government should indeed consider not inviting Mr Putin to Australia," he said.

"I do not believe Australians would want him here in those circumstances. It is in the best interests of the world to have a full, transparent, independent investigation."

But Mr Abbott says he wants to wait and see how Russia reacts.

"Australia is a self-respecting country ... and obviously we want to ensure that visitors to this country have good will to this country," he said.

"Let's hope that is what we will find in the weeks and months ahead."

Yesterday Mr Abbott described the attack as an "unspeakable crime".

"There can be no excuses, no buck-passing, no blame-shifting," he said on Friday.

The comments prompted an angry rebuke from Russia, which accused Mr Abbott of relying on speculation, rather than evidence, in deciding guilt.

Mr Abbott spoke with US president Barack Obama this morning about the tragedy.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will fly to New York tonight to lobby the United Nations Security Council to back a binding resolution on setting up an investigation.

Newman backs call for thorough investigation

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, who will welcome world leaders to Brisbane for the G20 summit later this year, says the Russian president will not be welcome unless he fully supports a thorough investigation.

"If Mr Putin is not prepared to do that, frankly I believe that Queenslanders don't want him here at the G20," he said.

"He has the opportunity to demonstrate some good faith. That can be done by properly getting behind international efforts to get to the bottom of what is clearly in my view a crime, a terrible crime."

In central Sydney today, more than 50 members of Australia's Ukranian community rallied to urge the Government not to invite Mr Putin to the G20 summit.

Pete Shmigel from the Australian Federation of Ukranian Organisations says there is ample evidence that Russian-backed separatists brought down M17.

He says the Russian leader has blood on his hands and he is not welcome in Australia.

"We want freedom for Ukraine, we want independence for Ukraine and we want Putin not to come to Australia," he said.

"No Putin at G20! No Putin at G20! No Putin at G20!"

Bishop says Russia refusing to talk on MH17

Ms Bishop says it is "extraordinary" that her Russian counterparts have refused to speak to her over the downing of Malaysia Airlines plane.

She told ABC's Lateline program she initially tried to speak with Russian foreign affairs minister Sergey Lavrov, but was told he was on holidays.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 8 minutes 56 seconds 8 m Julie Bishop concerned by Russian Ambassador's response to tragedy

"I then asked to speak to a deputy or a vice minister but I've now been told that I won't be able to speak to anybody in the ministry of foreign affairs in Moscow," she said.

She said no time was set, and she was told a phone call was "not possible".

Ms Bishop called on Russia to support a "thorough and independent investigation as soon as possible".

"If Russia believes that Ukraine is responsible then Russia surely would be supporting such an investigation," she said.

"I asked for assurances that Russian weapons or equipment had not been used to bring down this plane and [Russian ambassador to Australia Vladimir Morozov] said that there was no Russian equipment being supplied to the separatists.

"I found that a remarkable statement. He did admit that the separatists may well have the equipment to do this, because he suggested that they had captured a surface-to-air missile from Ukraine recently but they didn't have the capability to operate it."

Ms Bishop confirmed Australia has established its own investigation team and would be seeking access to the site.

"We are seeking representatives from the relevant countries. We will seek a binding resolution. I've been on the phone to a number of people on the security council to get that support," she said.