Disturbing footage of pro-Russian separatists ransacking victims' possessions has emerged following the aftermath of the MH17 disaster.

The video, published by News Corp Australia, purportedly shows soldiers going through people's belongings with someone shouting: "Who gave them the corridor (right to fly through this area)?"

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she could not verify the content but told the Nine Network: "It is sickening to watch and 12 months on from the downing of MH17 it is deeply concerning that this footage has emerged now."

She felt the video would be too overwhelming for the victims' families.

"Their grief is inconsolable and the burden of grieving and then seeing this footage will be almost too much to bear," said Bishop.

Commemoration services are being held in Canberra and the Netherlands to honour the 298 victims including the 196 Dutch, 39 Australians and 10 Britons, who lost their lives.

A plaque with victims' names has been unveiled in the gardens of Parliament House in Canberra.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott led the ceremony at Parliament House where a plaque was unveiled bearing the victims' names. He said: "I know that nothing anyone can do can bring back their loved ones, nothing anyone can say can make it easier for them.

"This was not just a tragedy. It was an atrocity."

Malaysia, supported by Australia, The Netherlands and Ukraine, is pushing for a criminal tribunal to bring those responsible for the downing of the MH17 to justice. But it would be hard to get it approved by the United Nations Security Council without the support of Russia.

"The point that I made to [Putin] when we spoke about this was that, as a parent and as a human being, he owed it to the families of the victims to do what he could to try to get to the bottom of this," he added.

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