参考答案：澳大利亚的一项重大创新行动计划已进行到一半。该项耗资29亿澳元的五年战略计划目的是通过改善经济和工业关系，资助研究工作以催生新思想，并将新思想转化为商业成就；通过所有这些举措为澳大利亚的未来打下坚实基础。上述行动计划的重点是提高澳大利亚公司获取新技术的能力，鼓励应用电子商务，资助研究和开发项目，并实现公共部门研究工作的商业化。
在全球化经济中，语言技能是一个重要的劳动力优势。虽然澳大利亚是一个说英语的国家，但很多人掌握另一门语言。澳大利亚具有类似西方的商业文化，但澳洲人既能在亚洲又能在西方的商业环境中工作。超过840家国际公司已将其亚太地区总部设在澳大利亚，其他一些公司则在澳大利亚建立呼叫中心，为客户提供服务——它们都利用了澳大利亚在语言技能和先进通信设施方面的优势。

解析：[听力原文]
Australia is midway through a major innovation action plan--a $2.9 billion five-year strategy, which aims to underpin Australia’s future by improving economic and industrial relations, helping generate new ideas by funding research, and turning those ideas into a commercial success. The plan focuses on enhancing Australian companies’ access to new technologies, encouraging the use of e-commerce, funding research and development programs, and commercializing public sector research.
In a globalized economy, language skills are a key workforce advantage. Although Australia is an English-speaking country, many people speak a second language. Australia offers the familiarity of a Western business culture with a workforce capable of operating in both Asian and Western business environments. Taking advantage of these skills and Australia’s advanced communications infrastructure, over 840 international companies have established their Asia-Pacific headquarters in Australia; others have established call centers to service their customers.