澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-10-08

Farmers are warning that proposal to slash¹ water allocations along the Murray-Darling would cause job losses and push up food prices. The proposal is expected to recommend deep cuts to irrigators' water entitlements. The plan will be released tomorrow and will apply equally across the basin states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

The Aussie dollar is edging closer towards parity² with the greenback, hitting its highest level in 27 years. It climbed to 99 US cents today. Analysts³ say the latest surge has added to the case for an interest rate rise.

The Victorian government has lost two senior ministers just seven weeks from the state election. Police Minister Bob Cameron is stepping down for family reasons and the Energy Minister Peter Batchelor is retiring after 20 years in politics. Mr Batchelor said his decision to leave was prompted in part by a recent health scare.

And there're renewed calls for abortion⁴ to be decriminalized  in Queensland. Healthcare Company  Marie Stopes International is leading the charge, arguing that most people believe abortion is a right, not a crime. The company surveyed 1000 people and found the vast majority want abortion to be removed from the criminal code.

Those are the latest headlines. Later on, business is next.

1 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

2 parity   

n.平价，等价，比价，对等

参考例句：

• The two currencies have now reached parity.这两种货币现已达到同等价值。
• Women have yet to achieve wage or occupational parity in many fields.女性在很多领域还没能争取到薪金、职位方面的平等。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。