MH17 Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will push for a unanimous UN Security Council vote to set up an independent tribunal into the downing of Flight MH17, a media report said today.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald as she arrived in New York for three days of lobbying and closed door meetings with Russia and its allies before the vote later this week, Bishop said a veto by Russia would deny justice to the 298 people killed when the plane was shot down over Ukraine.

“We cannot allow a veto in the United Nations Security Council to avoid justice,” Bishop told the newspaper.

“We owe it to the families to pursue those responsible, we owe it to those who are still suffering and grieving over the loss of their loved ones aboard MH17. They will not have closure in their lives until this matter is completed.”

She rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s earlier remarks that it was “premature” and “counterproductive” for the UN to vote on an independent tribunal.

“If that were Russia's concern, then I would expect that Russia would abstain, but I will be advocating for a unanimous resolution,” she said. That would require all 15 members to support the vote.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. We owe it to the families and the loved ones of those who died on MH17 to pursue the criminal investigation as soon as possible.

“Any further delay sends a very bad message to the increasing number of non-state actors who are capable of such an atrocity. The international community needs to be utterly united in condemning any attack on civilian airlines in commercial airspace.”

- dpa