Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has renewed his calls for the government to consider banning Russian President Vladimir Putin from attending the G20 in Brisbane in November.
But Mr Shorten said on Wednesday that he accepted that the decision could not be made by Australia alone and would have to be the result of a consensus among the international community.
The Financial Review is reporting the arrival of two top economic officials for this weekend's Group of 20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Cairns is a sign the Russian President still intends on touching down on Australian soil in November.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been a strident critic of President Putin's actions in Ukraine, especially since the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 which killed all 298 people on-board.
Mr Shorten has previously expressed his reluctance to meet Mr Putin, given that Australia holds Russia responsible for the disaster.
He's told Fairfax Media he continues to hold the "gravest reservations about President Putin coming to Australia" and hopes Mr Abbott and Ms Bishop are still "talking to other nations about whether it's appropriate" Mr Putin attends the G20.
But Mr Shorten said he accepted that the decision was not Australia's to make alone.
"It is an international conference, not an Australian conference, so I understand the government is in a difficult position".
Mr Shorten said most Australians "are understandably extremely uncomfortable" with the idea of Mr Putin being welcomed to Australia in November.
"The way Russia behaved following the downing of MH17 – with what is almost certain to have been a Russian-made missile – has been nothing short of disgraceful," he said.
"The complete lack of remorse, responsibility and proper cooperation with investigators, particularly in the days following this tragedy, was appalling."
Speaking earlier this month Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the decision about whether or not to ban Mr Putin was not "Australia's call" and had "to be a consensus from the G20".
Ms Bishop denied she would be actively lobbying for a ban but said it would inevitably feature in discussions at several major world leaders' meetings due to be held before November.
