澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2009-12-22（在线收听）

Cyclone Laurence has been downgraded to a category three system after leaving a trail of damage across Western Australia's north. The tropical storm was a category five when it crossed the Pilbara coast at 80 Mile Beach. It caused significant damage to some buildings, but there've been no reports of any injuries. Emergency services will assess the extent of the damage this morning.

The Opposition leader Tony Abbott is expected to press for a referendum on health funding. Fairfax Newspapers say Mr. Abbott will target Kevin Rudd's pledge to fix public hospitals. The Coalition's plans reportedly include federal funding for new local health and hospital boards.

The extreme weather in Europe is continuing to cause chaos. More than 40 people have died in Poland while temperatures have plunged to minus 33 degrees in southern Germany. The snow has also played havoc with transport, flights have been cancelled and highways are closed. But Eurostar says it may resume limited services between Britain and France.

And Ireland's iconic Guinness factory in Dublin has been badly damaged by fire. The fire began in an unoccupied storage facility while construction workers were repairing the roof. It took three hours to bring the blaze under control. Two firefighters were taken to hospital for gas inhalation.

I’ll have more news later.