澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-01-06

The Federal Opposition¹ has condemned² the use of Australian airports for Japanese whalers' spy flights. A company linked to Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research reportedly chartered Australian planes to track the Sea Shepherd ship, the Steve Irwin. The opposition has criticised the government for allowing the flights to leave the country and Greens leader Bob Brown also says the government must take action.

A campaign has been launched to ban the long-distance transport of dangerous goods on the road. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union wants each state and territory to introduce a uniform change to their Dangerous Goods Act. It would require materials like petrol to be transported via rail.

Western Australia was bracing³ for a day of catastrophic fire conditions. Authorities say it will be the worst conditions they've seen this summer, especially about the southwest land division and coastal⁴ communities north of Perth. Residents in areas with catastrophic danger ratings have been advised to leave their homes while the warnings are in place.

And the New South Wales State Emergency Service says more than 300 rural properties remain cut off by flooding in the state's northwest. The town of Wee Waa has escaped isolation⁵ after floodwaters hit late last night. About 60 rural properties remain isolated⁶ downstream of Coonamble and about 300 in the Bourke area.

We’ll have more news later.

1 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。

2 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

3 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

4 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

5 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

6 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。