The footage - which was reportedly filmed by the rebels themselves and released exclusively by News Corp - allegedly shows the insurgents' dismay as they discover what they thought was a Ukrainian jet fighter is a commercial airliner.
It also shows the rebels rifling through the luggage of passengers and crew.
Mr Abbott says the new footage highlights the enormity of what happened a year ago and has told ABC TV they may not have known they were shooting down a civilian passenger plane, but they were deliberately shooting out of the sky what they knew was a large aircraft.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she was sickened by the footage, but added she couldn't verify the authenticity of the video published by News Corp Australia.
"It is sickening to watch and 12 months on from the downing of MH17 it is deeply concerning that this footage has emerged now," Ms Bishop told the Nine Network.
'They are etched in our hearts'
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has unveiled a plaque in memory of those killed when Malaysia Airlines flight
MH17 was downed a year ago.
About 120 family members of the 38 Australians killed aboard the flight attended the small service in a garden of Parliament House in Canberra, ahead of a national memorial ceremony.
"The names of the Australians killed in the MH17 atrocity a year ago today are etched on this plaque just as they are etched in our hearts," Mr Abbott told the crowd.
'Queensland was saddened and shocked'
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has paid tribute to the 298 victims, including eight Queenslanders, who died
when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine a year ago.
Ms Palaszczuk told parliament on Friday the families of the eight Queenslanders would be feeling terrible grief, particularly on the tragedy's anniversary.
"The world was saddened and shocked. Australia was saddened and shocked. Queensland was saddened and shocked," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"People across the globe and around the country experienced the hurt, loss and confusion that comes with unexplainable death on such a large and inhumane scale."
'Premature and counterproductive initiatives'
Russian President Vladimir Putin says establishing an international tribunal to prosecute those behind the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 would be counterproductive.
He made his comments in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands, whose citizens made up the majority of the 298 people killed in the July 17 disaster last year.
The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin "explained Russia's position regarding the premature and counterproductive initiatives of several countries, including the Netherlands, on the establishment of an international tribunal."
The Netherlands is working with Malaysia, Australia, Belgium, and Ukraine on the creation of an international tribunal for MH17.
