Over a year since 2400 sheep cooked to death on a ship from Fremantle to the Middle East, prompting outrage and industry reviews, a bill to ban live export has passed the Senate.

Under former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, the Coalition resisted the ban. But now, with reduced numbers in the House, it's facing renewed pressure from Greens and Labor.

This morning, a Greens-led bill that would immediately ban the export of live sheep and lambs to ports to the riskiest shipping routes in the Persian Gulf or the Red Sea during northern summer months passed the Senate 31-28 with support from Labor and a number of crossbenchers.

To become law, the bill needs to pass the House of Representatives.

Here's an explainer on the government's numbers in the House.

Basically, it has 73 MPs, Labor has 69, the Greens have 1, and there are five crossbenchers.

For legislation to pass, it needs 76 votes in support.

Blocking the legislation could be problem for the Coalition, which has even fewer MPs in the House with the departure of Malcolm Turnbull following the recent leadership spill. Even before the spill, it had to rely on crossbench support to pass legislation.

Will any Liberals cross the floor?

Earlier this year, Liberal MP Sussan Ley introduced a private members' bill to ban the live export of sheep to the Middle East during the northern summer.

She also indicated she would be willing to cross the floor on the issue.

In May, Ms Ley had told the House the case for live sheep exports "fails on both economic and animal welfare grounds" and the industry had run out of second chances.

Unfortunately, this is an industry with an operating model built on animal suffering.

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Whatsapp Australian sheep are loaded onto a live export ship.

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Whatsapp Sheep on board a ship bound for the Middle East.

But since these comments Ms Ley has been promoted to the frontbench. Party rules prevent ministers from putting forward private member's bills or crossing the floor against government policy without quitting the frontbench. Fairfax reported last month Ms Ley and Liberal MP Sarah Henderson, who was also behind the live export bill, have shelved the legislation.

Asked today if she would support the debate of the Senate bill in the House, or cross the floor in support, Ms Ley released a joint statement with Ms Henderson.

It appears to indicate they would vote with the Coalition.

"The government will deal with messages from the Senate in accordance with the usual practice of both Labor and Coalition Governments," they told Hack.

"We remain committed to seeing the end of long haul live sheep exports and look forward to the Moss review further challenging the regulatory basis of the trade."

The review by former public servant Philip Moss into the culture, capability and investigative powers of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, which regulates live export, is due to report this month.

Labor to support the bill in the House

Without Ms Ley or Ms Henderson, or any other Coalition MPs, the Bill would have trouble passing the House, even with the support of Labor and the Greens.

A Labor spokeswoman told Hack the party will support the Senate bill in the House and also attempt to progress Sussan Ley and Sarah Henderson's private members bill through the House.

Greens Animal Welfare Spokesman Senator Mehreen Faruqi said the bill would have majority support in the House and called for a conscience vote, where MPs do not have to vote along party lines.

"Scott Morrison should allow a debate and a free vote to end to the horrors and suffering of the live export trade," she said.

"The reality is that no reform can change the fact that live exports are completely incompatible with animal welfare."

What the bill does

The bill applies to sheep and lambs being exported:

From Australia to or through the Persian Gulf or the Red Sea;

In July, August or September; and

For voyages of more than than 10 days

The ban would come into effect immediately, and then after five years it would apply to all sheep and lamb exported to the Persian Gulf or the Red Sea at any time of year.

Read a copy of the bill here.

Earlier this year, in May, the Turnbull Government rejected a ban on live exports in favour of rules to increase space allocated to sheep on ships by 39 per cent, improve ventilation, and increase penalties for company directors.

The summer live export ban is supported by the Australian Veterinary Authority.

In April, Channel Nine aired footage of sheep suffering extreme distress on a ship that left Fremantle in August last year and lost 2,400 sheep to heat distress.

This led to a Federal Government-ordered review into live sheep exports that recommended a major reduction in animals on ships bound for the Middle East during dangerous hot months in the middle of the year, but not a ban.