澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2014-12-15

 Leading the news, the Treasurer¹ Joe Hockey is expected to slash² foreign aid again when he delivers the media budget update today. Foreign aid is set to be cut further by more than three billion dollars over the next four years. Mr. Hockey is also expected to reveal that deficit³ has blown out by more than 10 billion dollars. 

 

“So we got this solving, and no matter what we do, people gonna be unhappy with, but we were preferred not to have been left in this position but we have been left in this position and we got to do something about the position we were left in.”

 

UN member states have stepped closer to reaching a deal on climate change after a marathon talks in Peru that approves the draft tax in the agreement that sets the foundation for cut in greenhouse gases. The climate deal is due to be sealed in Paris in December next year. 

 

Fire crews have been working through the night to contain the blaze in Perth out in northeastern suburbs. The fire broke out yesterday afternoon in Whiteman Park and threatened homes around / and /. No properties have been lost and the fire is now under control.

 

And a national survey of consumers has revealed growing pessimism⁴ about the economy. The report released by Consumer Advocate Choice suggests 32% of Australians seem to state the economy as poor. Power prices and the cost of food were the biggest concerns for those surveyed.

1 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。

2 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

3 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

4 pessimism   

n.悲观者，悲观主义者，厌世者

参考例句：

• He displayed his usual pessimism.他流露出惯有的悲观。
• There is the note of pessimism in his writings.他的著作带有悲观色彩。