Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has urged Russia to fall in line with the international community and back a swift investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
The United Nations Security Council issued a statement calling for a "full, thorough and independent international investigation" into the MH17 flight, which was apparently shot down above disputed territory in eastern Ukraine.
Ms Bishop said a binding UN resolution was needed to ensure the bodies could be repatriated and the crash fully understood.
"We need an immediate, urgent, international investigation," she told the Seven Network on Saturday.
"Australia welcomes the statement of the UN Security Council, but we need more."
Authorities say 28 Australians were among 298 people killed in the crash.
Ms Bishop said Australia has sent a team of 12 representatives to Ukraine, including six who are on the ground.
"They will be working with other governments and other authorities to ensure the crash site is secure," she said.
Ms Bishop said if the Russian government truly believed Ukraine was responsible for the crash, they would back an independent investigation.
"We expect, indeed we require, Russia's support for this investigation to take place," she said.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called Russia's initial response to the MH17 disaster "deeply unsatisfactory".
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