Commenting on tonight's ABC report that shows exported Australian cattle sledgehammered to death, Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

"The ABC report of the most horrific treatment of live export cattle is sickening, heart breaking and beyond belief.

"Prime Minister Turnbull must respond to Animal Australia's call for urgent intervention to stop this horror.

Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon has said fresh evidence of live export abuse aired on 7.30 is further proof that the Australian government's regulations are doing very little to end the enormous suffering of animals overseas.

"The unwillingness of the Australian government to administer criminal charges against offending export companies means we have seen yet another expose of animal cruelty on TV," said Senator Rhiannon.

Greens animal welfare spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said that Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has mislead farmers and the public when he expressed surprise saying he was "disappointed" over the Indonesian government's plan to cut cattle imports from Australia.

"How could Minister Joyce be surprised and disappointed when news of the Indonesian decision has been on the public record for many years," Senator Rhiannon said.

Commenting on a story on Lateline last night about cruelty to Australian animals in the Middle East, Greens spokesperson for animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon said:

 “Livestock Shipping Services (LSS), the reported exporter of Australian animals that have suffered horrific abuse in Gaza, should have its export licence suspended until all investigations against it are completed.

Greens spokesperson on animal welfare Senator Lee Rhiannon commenting on Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce's plan to expand Australia's live export trade into Iran said:

"Minister Barnaby Joyce is looking after a few wealthy pastoralists ahead of jobs growth in regional Australia.

"Expanding the live export trade into Iran is not about assisting farmers and rural communities.

"Minister Joyce is putting his sectional interests before the economic health of regional and rural Australia.