THE Greens have put forward a plan to phase out live animal exports, as federal Labor prepares for a showdown on the trade.

The Greens have released a position paper calling for the live animal trade to be replaced by a domestic industry that processes and packages meat for export at new facilities in northern Australia.

The five-point strategy argues domestic processing not only resolves animal welfare concerns but would boosts jobs and regional economies.

Debate around live exports was reignited recently after 21,000 Australian sheep were brutally slaughtered by Pakistani authorities.