The engine room of Australia's economy is showing unmistakable signs of faltering, as corporate leaders and trade unions in the resources-rich west report a collapse in business and consumer confidence, amid the international slowdown.
澳大利亚的经济引擎正在显示出明确的不稳定迹象,资源丰富的西部地区的商界和工会领导人纷纷表示,在全球经济衰退的影响下,公司赢利和消费者信心都在急剧下降。
Major mining projects in Western Australia have been shelved, with the loss of thousands of jobs, ________________________________________________________.
西澳大利亚州的大型矿业开发项目已经被搁置,数千份工作化为乌有。
BHP Billiton is shedding 3,400 jobs in Australia. Another 2,000 posts will go in Chile and 550 at the Pinto Valley copper mine in the United States.
必和比拓集团将在澳大利亚裁减3千4百份工作,在智利裁员2千人,在美国的平托谷铜矿裁员550人。
The cuts represent six percent of BHP's international work force and highlight a dramatic decline in the fortunes of mining companies.
这些裁员占必和必拓全球雇员的百分之6,凸显了这些矿业公司的财务状况急剧下降。
Amid the worldwide slump, Australia's once mighty mining sector faces what is likely to be more downward pressure on commodity prices and demand.
While other expension projects have been put on hold,with the country's boom state feels that financial chill brought on by falling demands from key markets such as China.看起来怎么有点不对劲。