澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-05-28

Federal Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor has accused West Australian Government of softening¹ its stance on people smugglers. The State's Attorney-General Christian² Porter has announced that WA will no longer house people smugglers in its prisons. He says the West is home to 95 percent of those charged with people smuggling³ and it simply doesn't have the funds or the space to accommodate any more.

 

The ABC understands the case against former Victoria Police Drug Squad⁴ detective Paul Dale will be dropped next week. Last year Dale was arrested and charged with the 2004 murder of police informant Terrence Hodson and his wife. Mr. Hodson, a drug dealer⁵, was to have given evidence against the sacked detective.

 

Victoria's Bushfires Royal Commission has ended with scathing⁶ criticism of senior management. Counsel assistanting the commission Jack⁷ Rush, QC, accused the Country Fire Authority chief Russell Rees and the former police chief commissioner⁸ Christine Nixon of showing a lack of leadership during the disaster. He also accused Ms Nixon of giving misleading evidence.

 

A New South Wales priest convicted of multiple pedophile offences will be sentenced today. Father John Denham has been convicted of 135 offences relating to 39 victims. Many of whom were students at St. Pius the tenth High School in Newcastle. It's believed that the compensation settlement for Denham's victims could potentially bankrupt the Maitland-Newcastle diocese.

1 softening   

变软，软化

参考例句：

• Her eyes, softening, caressed his face. 她的眼光变得很温柔了。它们不住地爱抚他的脸。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• He might think my brain was softening or something of the kind. 他也许会觉得我婆婆妈妈的，已经成了个软心肠的人了。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

4 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。

5 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

6 scathing   

adj.（言词、文章）严厉的，尖刻的；不留情的adv.严厉地，尖刻地v.伤害，损害（尤指使之枯萎）( scathe的现在分词)

参考例句：

• a scathing attack on the new management 针对新的管理层的猛烈抨击
• Her speech was a scathing indictment of the government's record on crime. 她的演讲强烈指责了政府在犯罪问题上的表现。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

8 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。