Malaysia Airlines MH17: Tony Abbott and Sir Peter Cosgrove to pay tribute to victims at Sydney ceremony (ABC)

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Prime Minister Tony Abbott will today commemorate victims of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crash at a church service in Sydney.

The plane was shot down by a missile over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew onboard, including 36 Australian citizens and residents.

Mr Abbott will be joined by dignitaries including Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove at Saint Mary's Cathedral to pay tribute to the 28 Australian citizens and eight permanent residents who died.

After news of the attack broke he labelled the tragedy "a grim day for our country and a grim day for the world".

"We bleed for them, we grieve for them and we will do everything we can," Mr Abbott said.

Mr Abbott has blamed Russian-back rebels for shooting down the plane and has called for a transparent and international investigation into the deadly attack.

The Prime Minister is then expected to open the international AIDS conference in Melbourne tonight.

Six people who were due to attend the conference were killed on MH17, including Dutch HIV researcher and former IAS president Dr Joep Lange.

The president of the International Aids Society (IAS) and Nobel laureate Francoise Barre-Sinousi said the attack had cost the world a "giant" in the field of HIV/AIDS research.

Dr Lange had been working on HIV since the early years of the virus, participating in clinical trials and training in developing countries.

Professor Barre-Sinoussi says continuing the event is for the best.

"Our colleagues were travelling because of their dedication to bringing an end to AIDS," she said.

"We will honour their commitment keep them in our hearts as we begin our program."

Mr Abbott says he plans to organise a National Commemorative Service and Day of Mourning once the victims' families have had time to comprehend the horrific event.

Julie Bishop heads to US

Australia is taking a lead role in pushing for an international investigation in the crash, with Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop on her way to the US.

Ms Bishop is expected to touch down in Washington for meetings before launching a lobbying offensive at the United Nations in New York.

Australia wants tougher action from the Security Council, believing a press statement calling for an independent international investigation is not enough.

It wants a binding resolution from members and is already drafting the text to put to the Security Council for a vote. It would need Russia's support.

Russia's foreign minister told the US Secretary of State he agreed all evidence from the downed plane, including flight recorders, should be made available to investigators and experts should be given proper access to the site.

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