Australian Senator's Housing Comments Spark Criticism; Whistleblower Granted Parole
Listen to the story
Andrew Bragg is a politician in Australia. He speaks for the opposition about housing. Bragg said poor people should accept bad housing.
People did not like his words. They said his idea would hurt poor families. These families already pay a lot for power bills.
Bragg is the shadow housing minister. This means he is not in government now. But he talks about housing plans for his party.
He defended his own words. He said he did not mean something bad. But many people still felt angry about it.
In other news, David McBride got some good news. He is a whistleblower. This means he told the public a big secret about the government.
McBride was in prison. Now he has parole. This means he can leave prison but must follow rules.
Vocabulary15 words
- opposition
- the political party not in government
- power bills
- money you pay for electricity
- shadow housing minister
- a person who talks about housing for a party not in government
- whistleblower
- a person who tells the public a secret about wrong actions
- prison
- a place where people go as punishment
- parole
- leaving prison early but following rules
- disadvantaged
- people with less money or fewer chances
- criticism
- when people say something is bad
- skyrocketing
- going up very fast
- defend
- to say your action was right
- government
- the group that runs a country
- politician
- a person who works in government or politics
- secret
- information hidden from most people
- rules
- things you must do or not do
- party
- a group of politicians who work together
Quiz
Answer key
1. They should accept substandard housing 2. Shadow housing minister 3. He was granted parole
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Andrew Bragg is a _____ in Australia. He speaks for the _____ about housing. Bragg said poor people should accept bad housing.
People did not like his words. They said his idea would hurt poor families. These families already pay a lot for _____.
Bragg is the _____. This means he is not in government now. But he talks about housing plans for his party.
He _____ his own words. He said he did not mean something bad. But many people still felt angry about it.
In other news, David McBride got some good news. He is a _____. This means he told the public a big secret about the government.
McBride was in _____. Now he has _____. This means he can leave prison but must follow rules.
More Politics stories
Next story · Easy
Rybakina Fights Back to Beat Osaka at Canadian Open