澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-02-22

The Federal Government will try again this week to get its changes to private health insurance passed by parliament. It wants to means test the rebate¹ for private health insurance and increase the Medicare surcharge for high-income earners who don't have private cover. If the changes are once again blocked, it could give the government another trigger for an early election.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett has admitted he didn't see a crucial report on the government’s home insulation² program until 10 months after it was delivered to his department. The Prime Minister says he also had no knowledge of the report. A Senate inquiry³ into the government's energy efficiency measures will take evidence in Canberra today.

A man has been stabbed to death in Sydney's inner-west overnight. Police say a 43-year-old man was found with multiple stab wounds on a street in Leichhardt shortly after midnight, two men wearing dark clothes were seen running away from the scene.

And a British government minister has sprung to the defense⁴ of Prime Minister Gordon Brown over claims he verbally and physically⁵ abused members of his staff. Peter Mandelson says Mr. Brown isn't a bully⁶ but a man who is demanding of others as well as himself.

And that's the news up-to-date, but stay with us for more updates throughout the day.

1 rebate   

v./n.折扣，回扣，退款；vt.给...回扣，给...打折扣

参考例句：

• You can claim a rebate on your tax.你可以要求退回部分税款。
• Customers are to benefit from a rebate on their electricity bills.顾客将从他们的电费退费中得到实惠。

2 insulation   

n.隔离；绝缘；隔热

参考例句：

• Please examine the insulation of the electric wires in my house.请检查一下我屋子里电线的绝缘情况。
• It is always difficult to assure good insulation between the electric leads.要保证两个电触头之间有良好的绝缘总是很困难的。

3 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

6 bully   

n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮

参考例句：

• A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
• The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。