Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has backed the federal government's strong condemnation of Russia over a nerve agent attack in Britain.
"It would certainly appear that Russia has interfered and broken laws in England," Mr Shorten told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday.
"The government has got a position of supporting the UK in terms of their outrage at what's happened, and I'm supportive of the government's position."
Russia's ambassador to Australia wants to meet with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to discuss the fallout of the attack.
"I guess it's a good idea for diplomats to meet with diplomats," Mr Shorten said.
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Former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter are fighting for their lives in hospital after being poisoned by a military grade nerve agent in Salisbury, England.
Britain and its western allies are blaming Russia for the attack.
Foreign Minister Julia Bishop has argued Russia had "no plausible excuse" for the attempted assassination.
Ms Bishop says Russia was either behind a nerve gas attack on a former spy in the UK, or the country has lost control of its chemical weapons supply.
Ms Bishop said Australia would work closely with the UK in the short-term, backing Britain's decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats and cut off high-level contacts with Moscow.
Australia will continue ongoing sanctions, including targeted financial sanctions introduced after threats to the Ukraine in 2014, and trade sanctions and travel bans introduced in 2015.
But Australia has no plans to introduce a Magnitsky Act, like those in the UK, United States and Canada, which allow sanctions against Russians connected to human rights violations.
