A draft version of the review into the embattled live exports industry declared the Department of Agriculture had "failed" to regulate the trade and referred to "corruption" risks, but the criticisms were removed after being shown to public servants.

Philip Moss Credit:www.aic.gov.au

The revelation raises questions why Philip Moss' independent examination of the Department of Agriculture's regulation of the live exports trade was provided to the department ahead of its completion, and why some of the suggested changes appear to have been accepted.

Documents obtained by Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi show Mr Moss submitted several drafts of his review to the department before it was publicly released in September.

The changes were submitted to the department using software that can track and record changes as they are made or suggested.