The Federal Government is considering banning live animal exports to some countries after ABC TV broadcast disturbing footage of Australian cattle being mistreated in Indonesian abattoirs.

Last night's Four Corners program featured footage of Australian cattle being beaten, whipped and kicked prior to slaughter in Indonesia.

According to analysis of the footage by RSPCA chief scientist Bidda Jones, some animals show signs of possible consciousness when they are dismembered.

Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig has introduced an immediate moratorium on a type of animal restraint box used in live exports and says he wants a full briefing before deciding on whether to impose export bans.

The Greens and some independents have called for live exports to be banned immediately and today MP Andrew Wilkie will introduce a private member's bill on the issue into Parliament.

Mr Ludwig says he was shocked by the images and is now examining ways to ban live exports to specific countries.

"I have ordered an immediate investigation... by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and have asked them to provide me with all available options in response to the evidence," he said.

"I have tonight directed the department to implement a moratorium on the installation of any new Mark I restraint boxes, as seen being used in the footage. This will apply to the instalment of any new boxes with Commonwealth funds across global markets.

"Finally, I have requested a thorough briefing on all of the legislative and regulatory responses available to me for responding to evidence of animal mistreatment, including the banning of trade to specific facilities or destinations."

The abattoirs featured on Four Corners are well-known to the Australian industry, which has installed equipment and provided training in Indonesian abattoirs to help with the handling of Australian cattle since 2000.

The live export industry was shown the vision from four Indonesian abattoirs prior to an interview.

LiveCorp chief executive Cameron Hall described the scenes as "graphic and disturbing" and announced the suspension of the supply of Australian cattle to three of the four abattoirs.

Mr Ludwig says the industry has failed to improve its standards, despite ongoing demands.

"It is clear that industry reforms to animal welfare standards have not gone far enough or been fast enough and much more needs to be done," he said.

Last night Mr Wilkie told 7.30 that the Federal Government could create jobs in Australia by processing the cattle onshore rather than exporting live animals for slaughter in other countries.

The ABC understands he and Senator Nick Xenophon want the live export industry wound up within three years.

Last night he said he wanted live exports to Indonesia stopped immediately.

"There's a systematic problem in that country," he said.

"There are thousands of animals suffering tonight as we're talking.

"We can't sit by and do nothing. This is a historic opportunity in this Parliament to do something decisive."

Labor backbencher Kelvin Thompson says the status quo cannot continue.

"When we stopped exporting animals to Egypt due to cruelty concerns in 2006, it was reported that the Egyptian Government moved straight to chilled meat imports to fill the demand," he said.

"The Four Corners program leaves no doubt that this issue needs a fresh look."

Indonesia is Australia's key market for live cattle exports, taking 60 per cent of all cattle, and in 2010, the trade was worth more than $300 million.

Since the trade began 20 years ago, more than 6.5 million cattle have been shipped to Indonesia for slaughter.

The Australian livestock export industry and the Australian Government have invested more than $4 million into improving animal welfare in Indonesia over the past 10 years.