VOA标准英语2008年-Australia Boosts Immigration to Plug Labor Mark

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
19 May 2008

Australia will increase its annual migration¹ intake² to 300,000 people a year - the biggest rise since the end of World War II. The increase in the annual quota³ is intended to address the country's chronic⁴ skills shortages. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

Australia's booming economy does not have enough qualified⁵ workers and immigration has become an important economic tool.

This year 300,000 permanent and temporary migrants will be allowed to settle in Australia. Just over 133,000 skilled workers will be allowed in, and about 13,000 refugees will be granted visas.

The government also plans to test a new program to recruit unskilled workers from the South Pacific.

For years, governments of Pacific island nations have urged Australia to allow islanders to plug gaps in its labor⁶ force.

Economic necessity has prompted Canberra to finally relent. Many Australian companies simply do not have enough staff, and that could stunt⁷ economic growth.

Under the new test program, islanders would be recruited on a short-term basis, particularly in seasonal⁸ industries such as fruit picking.

Associate Professor Richard Brown, who studies migration issues at the University of Queensland, says the plan would benefit everyone.

"Our argument is by opening up the Australian labor market to unskilled migrants from the Pacific islands a) we would alleviate⁹ certain bottlenecks¹⁰ in the supplies in both skilled and unskilled areas and b) we would be making a significant contribution to the development of the island economies especially in terms of poverty alleviation," Brown said.

There are concerns too that high levels of unemployment in the South Pacific could contribute to political instability.

Under a pilot program New Zealand will grant visas to 5,000 guest workers this year.

The Wellington government hopes the initiative will help the economies of the Pacific island nations and make them less reliant on aid from Australia and New Zealand.

1 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

2 intake   

n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口

参考例句：

• Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。
• There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。

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 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

5 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

6 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。

7 stunt   

n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长

参考例句：

• Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
• Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。

8 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

9 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。

10 bottlenecks   

n.瓶颈( bottleneck的名词复数 )；瓶颈路段（常引起交通堵塞）；（尤指工商业发展的）瓶颈；阻碍

参考例句：

• Roadworks are causing bottlenecks in the city centre. 道路施工导致市中心交通阻塞。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• At five o'clock in the afternoon the city streets are a series of bottlenecks. 下午五点市中心的街道就成了拥挤不堪的窄路。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》