A push to end live sheep exports has suffered a major blow, with two country-based Liberal MPs abandoning a backbench rebellion after scoring promotions to the ministry.
Liberal MP Sussan Ley said ending the trade remained a matter of strong personal conviction, despite confirming she would shelve her private member's bill.
Liberal Party rules prevent ministers from crossing the floor to vote against government policy, meaning Ms Ley and Liberal colleague Sarah Henderson can no longer support the legislation.
"Can I assure all who care deeply about this issue, I am working hard, with my colleagues and remain fully committed to seeing the end of this awful trade," Ms Ley posted to social media.
The private bill would have phased the trade out over five years, while also ending live sheep exports to the Middle East during next year's northern hemisphere summer.
Ms Ley's measures were mirrored in a Labor amendment tacked on to a bill to create harsh new penalties for dodgy exporters.
A handful of coalition backbenchers' support for the amendment forced the government to pull the bill after losing confidence in having the numbers to defeat the push.
There is also separate legislation before the Senate, which is co-sponsored by the Greens and crossbenchers Derryn Hinch and Tim Storer.
Animals Australia's Lyn White said the advocacy of Ms Ley and Ms Henderson had been of great benefit in recent months.
"While it's disappointing that they are no longer in a position to progress their private members bill, we welcome their public commitment to continue to work within the government to obtain support for a phase out of the trade," Ms White told AAP.
She said phasing out live sheep exports was Labor policy, putting an end in sight to the trade.
Ms Ley quit as health minister in early 2017 after intense scrutiny on her use of parliamentary entitlements.
She was released from the sin bin on Sunday when new Prime Minister Scott Morrison made her a junior minister for regional development and territories.
Ms Henderson also received a promotion, getting a gig as assistant minister for social services, housing and disability services.
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