Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged President Vladimir Putin to pressure Russia's ally Syria to reinstate and abide by a ceasefire.
Mr Turnbull says Russia has the critical influence to help ensure the Assad regime complies with a new ceasefire after this month's truce broke down.
"For the sake of humanity this ceasefire must be reinstated so aid can reach the community there in Aleppo," he told reporters in Sydney on Monday.
He was backed by Opposition leader Bill Shorten who also called for Russia to exert its influence on Syria.
The US and Russia brokered the nationwide ceasefire in a bid to allow delivery of aid and to kickstart peace talks to end the five-year Syrian conflict. It started on September 13 and scarcely lasted a week.
Coalition air strikes on Syrian troops on September 17 contributed to its collapse, although it had already been marred by numerous violations by both sides.
Violence has since escalated, with a surge in Syrian government attacks on the besieged city of Aleppo resulting in growing civilian casualties.
Mr Turnbull said the global community had called on all the parties to resume the ceasefire, especially Russia which alone had the critical influence to ensure Assad regime complied.
"So President Putin can ensure the Assad regime ceasefire and supports the ceasefire and participates in it and he should do so for the sake of humanity," he said.
Mr Shorten said Labor condemned the deliberate targeting of hospitals, water plants and unarmed civilians and such attacks must cease immediately.
"Russia, more than any other nation, has the power to bring these attacks on the people of Aleppo to an end and allow for the urgent resumption of desperately needed humanitarian aid," he said in a statement.
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