新西兰英语 437 The 2011 Budget

 　　First listen to news about previous budgets:

　　What is the Budget, May 19 2010 and The Budget, May 28 2009.

　　The Minister of Finance¹, Bill English, read the Budget today in Parliament. Just like the last few years, there were not many surprises. We already knew that the government would cut some money to families who receive extra funding from Working for Families. We knew that the government planned to sell a part of state-owned energy companies and Air New Zealand although it will still keep more than a 50% share. Listen to Jan 30 2011 for more about this.

　　We also knew that the government would cut some of the funding of Kiwi Saver although it will still put $1000 into the fund for any new workers joining Kiwi Saver. Workers and their employers now have to pay 3% instead of 2% of the worker’s wages into the savings² fund.

　　We knew too that the government would need money for the Earthquake Recovery in Christchurch. Some of the money from selling shares in state-owned companies will go to Christchurch.

　　There will be more money for Health, for schools and early childhood education, for job training for young people, for fast broadband and for Kiwi Rail.

　　Mostly, though, the government needs to cut spending because of the large debt. It has to borrow $380m a week but that will drop to $100m next year and by 2014, the government plans to start to repay³ the debt.

　　Questions

　　1. Why does the government have to reduce debt?

　　2. About 1.7 million workers have joined Kiwi Saver. Why has it been so popular?

　　3. Do you think the government should sell shares in state-owned companies?

1 finance   

n.财务管理，财政，金融，财源，资金

参考例句：

• She is an expert in finance.她是一名财政专家。
• A finance house made a bid to buy up the entire company.一家信贷公司出价买下了整个公司。

2 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

3 repay   

v.偿还，报答，还钱给

参考例句：

• I feel honor bound to repay the money I borrowed.我觉得有责任归还我借的钱。
• I must repay her for her kindness.我必须报答她的恩惠。