VOA常速英语2007年-Labor Win Heralds New Political Era in Australi

By Phil Mercer
Sydney
25 November 2007

President Bush and Britain's leader Gordon Brown have congratulated Australia's Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd after his stunning¹ election win. Mr. Rudd's overwhelming victory has ended more than a decade of conservative government under John Howard. The former diplomat² has promised a gradual withdrawal³ of Australian forces from Iraq and plans to sign the Kyoto Protocol⁴, after he takes office later this week. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

 Hugs and cheers greeted Kevin Rudd as he attended a Sunday church service in his home state of Queensland.

Congratulations have poured in too from overseas. Speaking in Uganda, Britain's Gordon Brown praised Mr. Rudd's commitments on global warming. President Bush said he was keen to maintain the "historic relationship" between Canberra and Washington. Kevin Rudd's plans for a phased withdrawal of Australian troops from the Gulf⁵ may put those close ties to the test.

Labor⁶ does, however, support the U.S.-led campaign in Afghanistan. Mr. Rudd is expected to visit the United States early next year.

Australia's new leader has also spoken to Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The pair is expected to hold talks at a climate conference in Bali next month.

Kevin Rudd will be eager to maintain Australia's relations with its neighbors in Asia, especially China, and its allies in Britain and the United States.

Labor's overwhelming election victory was built upon its promises on domestic issues, including a responsible approach to economic management, the scrapping⁷ of controversial industrial reforms and the provision of more money for education and training.

In his victory speech, Mr. Rudd promised his supporters a more compassionate⁸ approach to government.

"I'm determined⁹ to honor the confidence which has been extended to us by the people of our great land, and I say to all of those who have voted for us today, I say to each and every one of them, that I will be a prime minister for all Australians," said Rudd. "A prime minister for Indigenous¹⁰ Australians, Australians who have been born here, and Australians who have come here from afar, and have contributed to the great diversity that is our nation, Australia."

It has been a disastrous¹¹ weekend for John Howard.

The long-serving conservative leader has seen his government crumble¹² and could yet lose his own seat.

In a further blow to Mr. Howard's party the man expected to succeed him, the former Treasurer¹³ Peter Costello, has said he has no desire to become leader of the opposition¹⁴.

Australia's conservatives are wounded and fractured and analysts¹⁵ say it could take them years to recover.

For the first time there are Labor governments in every Australian state and territory as well as at federal level.

Labor's Julia Gillard has made history too. She is to become the country's first female deputy Prime Minister.

1 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

2 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

3 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

4 protocol   

n.议定书，草约，会谈记录，外交礼节

参考例句：

• We must observe the correct protocol.我们必须遵守应有的礼仪。
• The statesmen signed a protocol.那些政治家签了议定书。

5 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 scrapping   

刮，切除坯体余泥

参考例句：

• He was always scrapping at school. 他在学校总打架。
• These two dogs are always scrapping. 这两条狗总是打架。

8 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

9 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

10 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

11 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

12 crumble   

vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁

参考例句：

• Opposition more or less crumbled away.反对势力差不多都瓦解了。
• Even if the seas go dry and rocks crumble,my will will remain firm.纵然海枯石烂，意志永不动摇。

13 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。

14 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。

15 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。