There has been three suspensions in total and this article...

There has been three suspensions in total and this article confirms Howard suspending it the first two times, furthermore it confirms bipartisan support evidenced by this article written by Sid Maher for the Australian...

They will not ban live cattle trade unless the Greens were to win the election....

"As Senator Di Natale maintained the Greens’ opposition to live exports, Labor’s agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon last night released a six-point plan to guarantee animal welfare, including a $3 million promise over the forward estimates to establish an independent inspector-general of animal welfare.
Mr Fitzgibbon said the Gillard government’s suspension of live exports was the third time a government had suspended the trade.
The Howard government had suspended it the first two times but he said the regulatory regimen Labor had implemented would mean it would not happen again.
Mr Joyce and Mr Fitzgibbon both opposed Senator Di Natale’s push to abolish the live trade.
“There are many producers in the north that can’t grow their cattle to slaughter weight,’’ Mr Fitzgibbon said. “Barnaby was right that the live trade does produce competition, which tends to help producers with their prices …"