The Federal Government will give cattle growers in Australia's north a $30 million hardship package to tide them over the freeze on live cattle exports to Indonesia.

It is on top of the $3 million fund announced on Monday and will also benefit businesses that rely on the live cattle trade, like trucking companies and helicopter mustering businesses.

Trade was suspended three weeks ago after public outrage at footage of cruelty to cattle in some Indonesian abattoirs.

Every year more than 500,000 Australian cattle are exported to Indonesia. The trade made up 60 per cent of live cattle exports last year and generated $319 million.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says affected pastoralists and businesses can apply for an immediate $5,000 cash injection and for a $20,000 grant for other business expenditure.

"This is a package to meet the short-term hardship that the industry is facing now," Ms Gillard told reporters at a press conference in Darwin.

"The best thing we can do for the industry is get the trade resumed with Indonesia with the animal welfare issues addressed and we are working hard on that."

She says the trade will not be resumed until animal welfare issues are resolved.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson says Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) is spending $9.2 million on upgrading abattoirs in Indonesia with work happening "right now, today".

He says the upgrades include non-slip floors and better restraining boxes, "to ensure we never see again the sort of images we saw on the Four Corners program".

Ms Gillard says it was "absolutely the right decision" to suspend the trade, despite the cost of supporting the industry now.

"I want this industry to have a long-term sustainable future. The worst thing that could happen to the industry is that we didn't resolve the animal welfare issues now and in two years time there's another problem and in four years time there's another problem," she said.

"This is the time to get the animal welfare issues right so the Australian community can be assured that this trade is meeting their expectations about the treatment of animals."

The grant adds to the existing Government $3 million means-tested income subsidy program for workers and a $5 million contribution from the Cattle Council to look after cattle stranded in holding yards as a result of the trade suspension.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says Ms Gillard should be going to Jakarta to sort the problem out.

"The Gillard Government has created the problem, the Gillard Government should fix the problem," he said.

He says the live cattle trade could be resumed tomorrow.

"There are many, many Indonesian abattoirs that adopt the best standards... and the Prime Minister should make that happen," he said.

"The cattle industry doesn't want welfare, they want their trade back."

Ms Gillard's announcement comes as Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig prepares for a meeting with graziers in Mount Isa this afternoon.

It will be the first time Senator Ludwig has spoken to Queensland graziers since the ban was introduced.