Australian export ban bill doomed

Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt aims to ban the export of all livestock for slaughter outside Australia. Photo / Thinkstock

A parliamentary move to ban live animal exports looks doomed as the major parties back the trade.

The House of Representatives will consider two separate bills on the issue later today.

One, introduced by Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt, aims to ban the export of all livestock for slaughter outside Australia.

The second, initiated by independent Andrew Wilkie, seeks to have the trade phased out by 2014.

Neither bill has the support of Labor or the coalition, although Mr Bandt says some backbenchers on both sides might support his draft laws.

"Whether they are going to vote with us today, we'll find out shortly," he told ABC Radio.

The issue had ignited public opinion, following graphic footage showing the ill-treatment of Australian cattle inside a number of Indonesian abattoirs.

"The vote may go down but it'll be one of those instances where Labor and Liberal are out of step with what people think," Mr Bandt said.

-AAP