Sep 14, 2026Politics164 words1 min read

Pensioners to Cover Half the Cost of Labor's Health Savings Plan

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Pensioners in Australia may pay a lot of money. This is part of a health plan from the Labor government.

The plan wants to save $3 billion on private health costs. But new numbers show pensioners will pay for half of this money.

An independent politician named Monique Ryan asked for these numbers. Independent means she does not belong to a big political party.

The numbers came from special modelling. Modelling means using math to guess what will happen in the future.

There is also a different plan about power. This plan wants Australians to use more electric power at home.

Electric means power that comes from electricity, not gas or oil.

If people use more electric power, they could save $5,000 every year.

This is called electrifying homes. It means changing from gas to electric power.

Many people are talking about these two plans today in Australian politics.

Politics is about how a country is run and who makes the rules.

Vocabulary7 words

1. Who will pay for half of the $3bn health savings plan?

2. Who asked for the modelling about the health plan?

3. How much money could Australians save each year with electrification?

1. Pensioners 2. Monique Ryan 3. $5,000

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

_____ in Australia may pay a lot of money.

This is part of a health plan from the _____ government.

The plan wants to save $3 billion on private health _____.

But new numbers show pensioners will pay for _____ of this money.

An _____ politician named Monique Ryan asked for these numbers.

The numbers came from special _____.

This plan wants Australians to use more _____ power at home.

If people use more electric power, they could save $5,000 every _____.

This is called _____ homes.

Many people are talking about these two plans today in Australian _____.