Greens call for live export ban

The Greens want Australia to phase out "cruel" live exports and expand the chilled meat industry.

The minor party says current live export regulations are a "proven failure" and it's advocating the practice be phased out and for more abattoirs to support an expanded chilled meat trade.

"The government needs to respond - not with half-baked inquiries but a comprehensive plan to stop exporting livestock for consumption and instead process the meat in Australia," Senator Lee Rhiannon said on Wednesday.

Fellow Greens senator Robert Simms said stopping live exports went hand-in-hand with creating local jobs.

"Domestic processing of livestock is worth so much more to the Australian economy per animal than live exports," he said.