Australia Federal Police officers have been to the MH17 crash site in the rebel-controlled East Ukraine as part of a Dutch-led humanitarian mission.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott says it should take no longer than two to three weeks for unarmed Australian Federal Police officers to do their work at the MH17 crash site in Ukraine.
Mr Abbott says sending in Australian police has “absolutely nothing” to do with politics, but is about bringing home the bodies of Australia’s dead.
He says he’s discussed the move with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Donetsk.
Eleven officers are now at the crash site and have been observing and taking photographs.
The next stage will involve recovering human remains and having them repatriated.
Mr Abbott admits it’s a risky mission, but says risks must be taken to do the right thing by those that have died and their families.