South Australian Agriculture Minister Michael O'Brien will ask his counterparts from other states to back a plan to make stunning of livestock a mandatory requirement in Australian abattoirs.

Mr O'Brien will table a discussion paper at a national meeting of primary industry ministers meeting in Perth today.

The distressing footage of inhumane slaughter of Australian cattle at some Indonesian abattoirs resulted in the immediate suspension of exports of cattle to Indonesia and an inquiry into the live export industry.

Mr O'Brien said that as a result of the controversy Australians have become aware that the welfare of livestock during slaughter is improved if they are stunned before they are killed.

"Attention is now being given to the killing methods used in Australia, particularly those associated with ritual slaughter for religious or cultural reasons," Mr O'Brien said.