VOA常速英语2007年-Labor Party Cruises to Victory in Australian El

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
24 November 2007

Australia's centre-left Labor¹ Party has swept to power in national elections, handing long-serving Prime Minister John Howard a surprising defeat. Labor leader Kevin Rudd has promised major changes to policies on global warming and the Iraq war. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

Labor's victory ends more than a decade of conservative government under John Howard.

The 68-year-old former solicitor² became Prime Minister in 1996 and had been seeking a fifth consecutive³ term in office.

Mr. Howard formally conceded defeat before supporters at a hotel in Sydney.

"A few minutes ago I telephoned Mr. Rudd and I congratulated him and the Australian Labor Party on a very emphatic⁴ victory," he said. "This is great democracy and I want to wish Mr. Rudd well. He assumes the mantle⁵ of the 26th prime minister of Australia and I want to say that there is no prouder job a man can occupy than being the prime minister of this country."

Labor leader Kevin Rudd has promised voters energetic and responsible leadership.

Mr. Rudd insisted the Howard government had become complacent⁶ and lazy.

 

The former diplomat⁷ has positioned himself as an economic conservative who - unlike Mr. Howard - would ratify⁸ the Kyoto Protocol⁹ on climate change and bring Australian troops home from Iraq.

But is was domestic concerns that dominated the campaign. The economy was the central issue. Mr. Rudd has convinced voters he has the expertise¹⁰ to ensure the country's economic prosperity continues, despite Mr. Howard's claims Labor would be too inexperienced to do so.

Climate change, education and health care were also key issues in this election.

Mr. Rudd has brought to an end John Howard's decade-long domination of Australian politics - an era that has been characterized by the conservative leader's close friendship to U.S. President George Bush, strong economic growth and an uncompromising approach to immigration and border security.

John Howard became Australia's second-longest serving prime minister. He now faces the prospect¹¹ of more losses at the polls - including the possible loss of his own parliamentary seat. If he does he will be the first leader to do so since 1929.

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 solicitor   

n.初级律师，事务律师

参考例句：

• The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
• The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。

3 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

4 emphatic   

adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的

参考例句：

• Their reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them.他们的回答很坚决，不容有任何人怀疑。
• He was emphatic about the importance of being punctual.他强调严守时间的重要性。

5 mantle   

n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红

参考例句：

• The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green.大地披上了苍翠欲滴的绿色斗篷。
• The mountain was covered with a mantle of snow.山上覆盖着一层雪。

6 complacent   

adj.自满的；自鸣得意的

参考例句：

• We must not become complacent the moment we have some success.我们决不能一见成绩就自满起来。
• She was complacent about her achievements.她对自己的成绩沾沾自喜。

7 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

8 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。

9 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

10 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

11 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。