Stefan Romaniw, chairman of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, said G20 members should have "hit hard" by preventing Mr Putin's attendance after the MH17 disaster and "months of warnings and sanctions" over Russia's incursions into Ukraine.

The move comes as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten accused Prime Minister Tony Abbott of walking back from the tough language he directed at Russia after the downing of MH17, which killed 298 people, including 38 Australian citizens and residents, less than three months ago.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, a vocal opponent of allowing Mr Putin to come to Brisbane for the summit, said on Sunday at a press conference alongside Mr Abbott that his view had not changed.

Mr Abbott said on Sunday it was not in Australia's power to go against a consensus of the G20's members and ban an individual leader from attending, after Treasurer Joe Hockey confirmed on the ABC's Insiders program that Mr Putin would be present.

He acknowledged that some Australians would be angry to see him shake the Russian leader's hand but said he would be seeking an "assurance from him that he and Russia will do everything they can to ensure that now, at least, justice is done".

But Mr Romaniw said talk of sensible dialogue with the Russian leader was "a furphy" and the decision to allow Mr Putin to attend would upset not only Ukrainian residents of Australia, but the "general Australian population".

"The international community will be disappointed he's coming to Australia," he said.

"There have been sanctions, there have been warnings, he has totally disregarded those warnings.

"The idea that this will be some sort of sensible dialogue around a table is just a furphy.

"He needs to be hit hard internationally by not being allowed to attend this sort of event."

Mr Romaniw said the federation was following through on plans for a protest in Brisbane on November 15, despite several areas around the forum precinct being declared restricted zones.

The federation's public affairs director, Pete Shmigel, said the organisation was working with Queensland police and it expected to be joined by a broad range of groups, including Australians angry about Russia's tough anti-gay laws.

Mr Shorten said on Sunday that Australians were "understandably extremely uncomfortable about welcoming President Putin to Australia" and Mr Abbott had gone from "talking tough to trying to pretend Putin coming here isn't an issue Australians are concerned about."

He said the government's position was difficult because it was an international summit but said it should have done more to push for a ban.

"It is disappointing that the Abbott government couldn't use the leverage that hosting the G20 and holding a seat on the UN Security Council afforded for preventing the attendance of Mr Putin."