Parliament has passed the federal government's laws to ban the trade of live sheep in a move expected to have a major impact on farmers.

The bill passed the lower house last week before it was voted on by the Senate on Monday night.

The legislation was proposed as a Labor election commitment by Anthony Albanese in 2022 and will see the phasing out of live sheep exports by sea up until 2028.

While the laws have been strongly supported by animal rights activists, farming communities in Western Australia will be affected by the major update as WA is the only state or territory in Australia still exporting live sheep by sea.

Up to 1700 vehicles descended on the Perth CBD in late May to protest the legislation, despite the Labor government announcing a $107 million package over four years to help sheep farmers transition out of live exporting.

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan condemned the passing of the laws, declaring it a "shameful day" for Australia.

"This is the first time that I can find in our history that we have made a certain type of farming illegal. This government has made a type of farming a criminal act," he told Sky News host Peter Stefanovic on Tuesday.

"We could try and increase regulations, increase standards – it’s been happening here for many years in the live sheep trade, happens all through different types of economic activity.

"The government here has just sold out our farmers to activist groups in exchange for preferences at elections for the Labor Party and in doing so, they’ve shut down the livelihoods of 4,000 farmers who are engaged in the live sheep trade and thousands others of truck drivers, it’ll affect the wool trade as well. The viability of the whole sheep industry in WA is at risk."

Mr Canavan took aim at Labor for rushing the legislation through without the ability for those who opposed to debate on the issue, after Nationals leader David Littleproud had asked parliament on Monday to delay the passage in order to hold a Senate inquiry.

"It passed it through by gagging debate last night, did not have a committee stage where we can debate amendments, refused to have a Senate inquiry on the issue," he said.

"The government's clearly embarrassed about its political deal and preferences to end a type of farming in this country and therefore it snuck it through in the middle of the night."

WA Premier Roger Cook told the ABC the state government would keep negotiating extra support for farmers impacted by the laws.

"We're confident we will get a better deal for WA farmers," he said.

"We are exploring a range of issues with the federal government in terms of the assistance for farmers ... those conversations are ongoing."