澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-03-08

 Julia Gillard and Barack Obama have stressed the close relationship between Australia and the US after their first talks in the White House. President Obama paid tribute to Australia's commitment in Afghanistan. Trade issues and the developments in the Middle East and North Africa were also discussed.

 

Federal Labor¹ support has hit an all-time low. Its primary vote has dived six points in the latest Newspoll. It's now just 30 per cent. Now this is the first poll since the Government announced its plan for a carbon tax. Fifty-three per cent of those who were surveyed say they oppose that tax.

 

Rebel-held territory has again come under sustained attack from government forces in Libya. There are reports this morning that air strikes on the oil town of Ras Lanuf have killed dozens of people. NATO is considering military options in response to that situation. And Britain and France are working on a resolution for a no-fly zone to put to the UN Security Council. 

 

Former French President Jacques Chirac has gone on trial on corruption² charges. He's accused of using public funds to create fake jobs for political associates while he was mayor of Paris between 1977 and 1995. 

 

And the International Women's Day has sparked renewed calls for quotas⁴ to get more women onto the boards of Australian companies. Governor-General Quentin Bryce says she supports a quota³. Opposition⁵ treasury⁶ spokesman Joe Hockey says there should be a target of 30 per cent. The Federal Government has committed to have women make up 40 per cent of public board positions by 2015.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 quota   

n.（生产、进出口等的）配额，（移民的）限额

参考例句：

• A restricted import quota was set for meat products.肉类产品设定了进口配额。
• He overfulfilled his production quota for two months running.他一连两个月超额完成生产指标。

4 quotas   

（正式限定的）定量( quota的名词复数 )； 定额； 指标； 摊派

参考例句：

• In fulfilling the production quotas, John made rings round all his fellow workers. 约翰完成生产定额大大超过他的同事们。
• Quotas of the means of production are allocated by the higher administrative bodies to the lower ones. 物资指标按隶属关系分配。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。