澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-10-26

The former Prime Minister John Howard's return to the public eye has brought him a confrontation¹ with David Hicks and saw him come under fire from footwear. On the ABC's Q & A program, a man threw a shoe at Mr Howard in protest at Australia's involvement in Iraq. The former PM also faced questions via video from former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has compared the Coalition²'s economic policy to that of Pauline Hanson's. Ms Gillard used a speech to business leaders to question the Opposition³'s commitment to long-term economic reform. She singled out Shadow Treasurer⁴ Joe Hockey's call to control interest rates, saying that'd put Australia's prosperity at risk.

A new poll shows the Government has dropped behind the Coalition in the two-party vote. Today's Newspoll gives the Opposition 52 per cent of the vote compared to Labor's 48 per cent.

A 16-hour standoff between an armed man and police ended in Brisbane overnight. The 54-year-old New Zealander set himself and his boat alight and then jumped into the Brisbane River. He was quickly rescued and taken to hospital.

And a leading economic forecaster is predicting that Australia is on the cusp of a second resources boom. The Access Economics' quarterly outlook says the boom would also drive up interest rates. But it's also warned that a lack of migration⁵ will lead to a skills shortage.

1 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

2 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 treasurer   

n.司库，财务主管

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
• The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。

5 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。