新西兰英语 822 John Key visits Australia

 　　John Key visited Australia today to meet the new Prime¹ Minister, Tony Abbott.

　　Listen to Sept 13th 2013 to hear more about the new Australian Prime Minister.

　　John Key’s visit was just for one day but in that short time, the two men talked about matters that affect both countries. They will meet again at the APEC conference next weekend in Indonesia. Mr Abbott visited Indonesia on Monday, partly to talk about how to stop boat people from coming to Australia.

　　Listen to April 20th 2009 to hear more about the problem of boat people.

　　When John Key had talks with a previous Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, he promised that New Zealand would take 150 boat people who arrived in Australia. However, Tony Abbott said that he would not allow that. They have to go to the islands of Nauru or Manus but not to Australia or New Zealand. He does not want to make it attractive for these people to come to Australia.

　　Tony Abbott repeated what Julia Gillard had said about New Zealand and Australia being like family. He hopes to visit New Zealand next year.

　　Vocabulary

　　APEC – Australia, Pacific Economic Cooperation

　　previous – earlier (Note ‘the previous’ means the one just before Mr Abbott whereas² ‘a previous’ means an earlier one.)

1 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。

2 whereas   

conj.而，却，反之

参考例句：

• They want a house,whereas we would rather live in a flat.他们想要一座房子，而我们宁愿住在一套房间里。
• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。