Foreign Minister Julie Bishop expects all countries on the United Nations Security Council to fully support Australia's bid to secure international access to the MH17 crash site.
Russian-backed separatists have so far prevented investigators from accessing evidence at the site and the bodies of almost 300 victims are still in the hands of the rebels.
Australia is pushing for a UN-backed resolution, which calls for separatists to allow international access to the site and requires the full cooperation of all countries in the region.
Ms Bishop has called for an urgent vote - which could take place as soon as Monday.
Russia, as a permanent member of the council, has the power to veto the resolution, but Ms Bishop said she expected all countries to back the Australian campaign.
"I would expect every country to give it their full support," she told reporters in Washington.
Ms Bishop will hold talks with the Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans and UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond about the resolution.
At least 37 Australian citizens and residents were on board MH17 when it was shot down over eastern Ukraine late last week.
"Australia has a lot at stake here," she said.
"They have been murdered and the Australian government will not rest until we're able to bring the bodies home to the Australian families who are waiting for them."
A team of international forensic experts is waiting for a refrigerated train loaded with almost 200 bodies to be released from the village of Torez near the crash site.
Ms Bishop said she had spoken to families of the victims who want their loved ones returned.
"We owe it to them," she said.
The government was determined to secure an independent investigation that was "impartial and thorough and competent and able to determine who is responsible for this so they can be brought to justice".
Share
