澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-04-30

 The federal government could introduce a medicare-style levy¹ to fund its national disability insurance scheme. The prime minister had previously² ruled out a levy, but the ABC understands this is back on the table. Julia Gillard has foreshadowed tax increases and spending cuts to plug a twelve-billion dollar revenue hole in next month's budget.

 

Australia's five biggest airports are failing their customers accroding to a new report out today. The report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found service across the board has fallen since last year. It says congestion³ is becoming a big problem, as passenger numbers increase, and will only get worse if there is not more investment in infrastructure⁴.

 

Police are investigating after a Sydney home were shot at overnight. Police found bullet holes in the fence and the door of the Kingsgrove house in the city's west. Bullet holes were also found in cars parked in front of the house.

 

The Immigration Department is defending the adequacy of medical facilities at Australia's offshore⁵ detention⁶ centers. The department insists facilities are comfortable to Australian standards, but former medical staff have told the ABC that the medical treatment available at the centers is grossly inadequate⁷.

 

Syria's prime minister has survived an assassination⁸ attempt in Damascus. What appears to be a remotely detonated car bomb exploded as Wael al-Halqui's convoy⁹ pass through, a normally well-secured part of the capital. The powerful blast is believed to have killed his body guard and also injured several other people.

 

1 levy   

n.征收税或其他款项，征收额

参考例句：

• They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。
• A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

6 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

7 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

8 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

9 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。