REGULATIONS * Australia - New trucking laws about to be finalised

Perth,WA,Australia -ABC Rural -5 April 2011: -- The trucking industry says it's looking forward to new draft national regulations, which are being finalised this week... Driving a heavy vehicle is a dangerous occupation; 258 people died in truck and bus crashes last year... Part of the problem is driver fatigue, which is exacerbated by differing laws in states and territories... Andrew Higginson, of the Livestock and Bulk Handlers Association, says the system can't go on as it is... (Photo from roadtransport: Australia's livestock haulier truck)

* Australia - Livestock transporter wants brakes put on taxes

Warwick,QLD,Australia -ABC News, by Sam Burgess -Apr 7, 2011: -- A livestock transporter says the Federal Government should delay increasing taxes on the trucking industry while it recovers from the floods... From July 1, the trucking industry's fuel tax and registration will go up 2.4 per cent... Warwick transporter Ross Fraser says it could not come at a worse time for the livestock industry... He says the rises may have to be passed on to livestock producers, who are still paying off the cost of January's deluge...