Victorian premier calls MH17 looting reports an 'abomination'

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine has vented his anger at reports of looting at the MH17 crash site in Ukraine.

Of the 36 Australian residents killed in the Malaysia Airlines crash, 18 called Victoria home.

Dr Napthine said the vision of armed militia "wandering round the site pilfering" was disgraceful.

"It is an abomination that looting of this site continues," Dr Napthine told reporters today. "It is an abomination that remains aren't treated with the respect they deserve.

"Like all Victorians I feel frustrated and angry at what we're seeing."

Dr Napthine backed Queensland Premier Campbell Newman's call to ban Russian President Vladimir Putin from November's G20 summit in Brisbane if he doesn't support an independent crash investigation.

"If he doesn't come to that party, there's no place for Mr Putin in a free country like Australia," he said.

Dr Napthine said NATO and the United Nations should take immediate action to secure the site and start an investigation into the cause of the crash.

He also said talks were continuing with St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne for a memorial service later in the week.

Dr Napthine said the Department of Human Services had organised counselling for families of those who died, as well as for Malaysia Airlines staff in Melbourne.

A hotline has been set up for anyone who wants more details.

"I'm (also) arranging for condolence books to be available across the length and breadth of Victoria through local shires and local libraries, so people can record their comments," Dr Napthine said.