News: World watches as implications of MH17 disaster revealed

28 Australian citizens and 9 permanent residents have been confirmed dead, killed when Malaysian Airline Flight 17 was shot down over separatist controlled Eastern Ukraine.

While the separatists have shot down military aircraft before, it’s the first time a passenger plane has been brought down in this conflict.

Greg Barton is the International Director of the Global Terrorism Research Centre at Monash University, Katrina Roe spoke to him just hours after the news broke and asked him whether it was clear that pro-Russian separatists in Eastern Ukraine were responsible for the tragedy:

Listen now: Greg Barton, Monash University.

http://downloads.hopemedia.com.au/kr/kr_gregbarton-mh17.mp3 

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop introduced a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for immediate access to the crash site and an independent international investigation.

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The resolution was passed unanimously and there is now intense international pressure on Russia to facilitate access to the crash site and honour the commitment for a full investigation.

Listen Now: International Affairs Commentator Keith Suter talks about the international political implications of the MH 17 incident.

http://downloads.hopemedia.com.au/KR/KR_keithsuter.mp3

Adressing the nation, Prime Minister Tony Abbott admitted these were “difficult and daunting times”. He says the government’s priority is to retrieve the bodies, to secure the site and to ensure justice is done to the perpetrators.

Listen Now: Prime Minister Tony Abbott addresses the nation on the MH17 crisis.

http://downloads.hopemedia.com.au/KR/KR_TonyAbbott-MH17grab.mp3

Hear our LIVE 9 New simulcast from 6pm weekngihts on air and online for further updates.