Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged Labor to stop playing games with a push to slap harsher penalties on dodgy live animal exporters.
The federal government wants new penalties of up to 10 years' jail and multi-million dollar fines for individuals and companies guilty of wrongdoing in the under-fire trade.
A handful of rogue Liberal MPs have threatened to support Labor's move to amend the penalties legislation, effectively ending live sheep exports in five years.
In response the government has parked the bill, which was introduced after the industry came under heavy pressure when footage showing thousands of sheep dying on a Middle East-bound ship emerged.
"What we're calling on is for Labor to stop playing games with this legislation, support it in the form it's presented," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
"The bill should be passed in its current form without this political tactical exercise of seeking to amend it."
The RSPCA, which has called for an end to live sheep exports, wants the legislation passed immediately.
National Farmers' Federation are also calling for the political stalemate to end and immediate passage of the new penalties, while reiterating ongoing support for a reformed trade.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said Labor had deliberately stalled bigger penalties with a political stunt.
"Punt the political games and let's get a result for animal welfare and the people on both sides of this debate," Mr Littleproud said.
It comes as Labor revived its plan for an independent watchdog to oversee the live export regulator.
The opposition's agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon introduced a bill to parliament on Monday to reinstate the role, which was disbanded after Labor lost power in 2013.
Meanwhile in the Senate, independent Derryn Hinch presented separate legislation to end live sheep exports over five years.
Senator Hinch, who is a long-time anti-live exports campaigner, said the trade was putrid.
He dismissed "crap" arguments defending the trade, such as claims Australia had better animal welfare standards than other live export countries.
"If we're not cruel jerks, somebody else will be. WTF?" Senator Hinch told parliament.
Labor's amendment mirrors Liberal MP Sussan Ley's private member's bill which would phase out live sheep exports and end the northern hemisphere trade.
