Forensic experts have formally identified the first victims of the 38 Australian citizens and residents killed in the MH17 crash.

Mary and Gerry Menke from the small coastal community of Mallacoota in far eastern Victoria were among the 298 people who died when the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was downed over insurgent-held eastern Ukraine on 17 July.

The couple were involved in the abalone industry and in producing pearl jewellery.



The Menke family said in a statement on Friday they were “relieved” the couple had been identified.



“We wish to thank all those who have helped in this process,” the family said. “We look forward to receiving Mary and Gerry again soon in the place and the community they loved so much and which loved them.



“Once again we extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy.”



Dutch forensic experts have so far identified 127 victims.



Most of the identified victims have been Dutch but other nationalities have been publicly revealed, including from Malaysia, UK, New Zealand, Canada, Belgium and Germany.



A Dutch justice department spokesman said that Australian diplomatic authorities had advised the department not to say whether any of the bodies were Australians.



“We do not disclose the specific countries of foreign nationals who have been identified ... at the request of the embassies in The Hague concerned,” the spokesman said.



“It is up to individual embassies/countries to disclose information on their own citizens.”



The Australian government’s position is that no confirmation of Australian victims will be released unless the affected families wished to disclose the information.



Tony Abbott said in the Netherlands on Monday that it was up to the families.



“It is for officialdom to inform the families and then respecting the rights of families to allow families to decide what should happen next,” he said.



Australian investigation team leader Dr Simon Walsh hinted on Monday that Australians might have already been identified, but their nationalities remained a secret.



“Up to date figures will be released ... [but] please don’t make the assumption that that means no Australians have been identified,” Walsh said.



“The only people who will give the authority for that information release will be the families themselves.”

