Australia is debating new rules for home building. The opposition party says some construction standards should not be mandatory. Andrew Bragg is a coalition politician. He is proposing changes to the national construction code. Basic safety and health rules would stay compulsory, but some extra features could become optional for builders.
Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson appeared on radio to discuss this topic. He highlighted the trade-offs between housing costs and energy standards. Many Australians struggle to afford rent or mortgage payments. Wilson argued for flexibility instead of one-size-fits-all requirements for the entire country.
Australia spans many different climate zones from tropical north to temperate south. Some regions experience brief cold or hot spells only during small parts of the year. Wilson suggested practical solutions like wearing warm clothing during winter rather than spending tens of thousands on expensive insulation. The debate continues about balancing affordability with environmental goals.
Sources: theguardian.com
The words in bold are from the article.
| 1. proposing | a. middle ground |
| 2. compulsory | b. support |
| 3. afford | c. thermal protection |
| 4. flexibility | d. continuing |
| 5. insulation | e. suggesting |
| 6. mandate | f. require |
| 7. spectrum | g. pay for |
| 8. compromise | h. mandatory |
| 9. advocate | i. adaptability |
| 10. ongoing | j. range |
1.e 2.h 3.g 4.i 5.c 6.f 7.j 8.a 9.b 10.d