Former Liberal party frontbencher Sussan Ley will soon introduce a private members' bill to phase out live sheep exports to the Middle East, saying she was "deadly serious" about ending the trade.
Ms Ley, a former farmer from NSW, said she was becoming increasingly incredulous at the "business as usual" approach by exporters to sheep deaths aboard their ships.
"I want to see this live sheep trade permanently cease," she told Sky News on Thursday.
"We have to lift our eyes; we have to focus on what is really happening and we have to recognise that these exporters have had years, if not decades, to clean up their act."
Ms Ley said it was "inherently impossible" to transport sheep to the Middle East during the northern summer in a humane way.
"Particularly if the exporters are not interested in doing it," she said, outlining plans to introduce the legislation next month.
Meanwhile, live exporters have agreed to establish an independent inspector to oversee the under-fire trade.
After years of opposition to the idea, the Australian Livestock Exporters' Council voted in Brisbane on Wednesday to establish an independent inspector-general to observe the treatment of livestock onboard ships.
It comes after shocking footage emerged last week of sheep dying in inhumane conditions on a ship bound for the Middle East, sparking outrage.
"Exporters are listening to the community and acting decisively to achieve change in the industry," ALEC chairman Simon Crean said in a statement.
"The welfare of the animals and the future of our industry depends on it."
Labor's agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon is surprised by the shift in attitude from the industry, given the ALEC and National Farmers' Federation railed against the opposition's policy ahead of the 2016 election.
Ms Ley believes an independent inspector is at risk of being a "toothless tiger" which acts as a band-aid solution.
The government has launched reviews into the regulator and the northern summer trade of livestock, as well as a whistleblower hotline.
Cabinet minister and senior Nationals figure Matt Canavan said the key was severely punishing those in the industry who do the wrong thing.
Greens senator Nick McKim said if there wasn't parliamentary support to end the trade, his party would consider supporting a new regulator.
The findings of a veterinarian-led review into live export voyages to the Middle East will be handed down by May 11.
