Former prime minister Tony Abbott has called on Australia to expel the Russian ambassador if Moscow refuses to apologise for its involvement in the downing of flight MH17.
Mr Abbott - who once famously threatened to shirt-front Vladimir Putin over the atrocity - said a country could not be complicit in the deaths of 38 Australians and face no consequences.
"If the Russians don't apologise, we should expel the Russian ambassador until they do," he told The Australian on Tuesday.
The Turnbull government has demanded immediate talks with Russia after accusing the Kremlin of direct involvement in the missile strike on the aircraft.
A joint investigation last week found a Russian missile was used to shoot down the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in July 2014.
The plane was headed from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was blown out of the sky, killing all 298 passengers and crew, including 38 Australians.
The federal government has called on Russia to admit its involvement in the atrocity "at the very least" for the sake of the Australians killed.
However, President Vladimir Putin denied any responsibility under international law after Russia was blamed.
Australia will also be seeking compensation for the families of the victims.
