Abbott threatens showdown with Putin during G20 visit

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has forecast a confrontation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin when he touches down in Brisbane for the G20 next month.

"I am going to shirtfront Mr Putin," he said today, seismically shifting his approach to Russia while visiting a North Queensland coal mine.

"I am going to be saying to Mr Putin Australians were murdered," he said, referring to the shooting down of MH17 over Ukraine.

"There'll be a lot of tough conversations with Russia. I suspect the conversation I have with Mr Putin will be the toughest of all."

The term, shirtfronting, is from Australian Rules football.

Labor has conceded the government can't stop Mr Putin from attending G20, but is against a meeting of the two leaders.

"Putin doesn't think the same rules apply to him as other people so I wouldn't give him the time of day," Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said.

Australia's Ukrainian community is already planning mass protests throughout the summit.

Spokesman Stefan Romaniw said: "I think he's shown he has no respect for mankind, no respect for humanity, no respect for the international community."