An Australian politician has made news by changing his name to Austin Trump. He did this to protest against the ruling Labor Party in Australia. Ben Dawkins, who is an independent member of the upper house of parliament in Western Australia, believes that the current government is corrupt and unfair. By choosing the name Austin Trump, he shows his admiration for former U.S. President Donald Trump and his way of discussing politics.

Dawkins has made sure that his new name is officially recognized. On the Western Australia parliamentary website, he is now listed as “Aussie Trump.” He has also updated his social media accounts, using the name “Hon. Aussie Trump MLC” on his X account. This change is part of his plan to connect better with the people he represents and to share his political opinions more effectively.

In a recent social media post, Dawkins explained why he made this change. He said, “I’ve launched a political protest against the tyranny and systematic corruption of the Labor government in WA.” Many people who feel the same way about the current political situation are responding to his message. He is open to talking with both supporters and critics about these issues.

Dawkins has also shared some of Donald Trump’s more controversial views, especially about energy policies. In another post, he told his followers to “Vote Labor Out! & Drill Baby Drill!” This phrase is similar to Trump’s push for more oil and gas production in the U.S. It shows that Dawkins is inspired not just by Trump’s personality, but also by his ideas. He even invited Trump to contact him, saying, “I would love you to reach out Donald, just ring the office here.” By calling himself Austin Trump, Dawkins is making a strong statement and positioning himself as a voice of political change in Western Australia.

Original news source: Australian politician changes his name to ‘Aussie Trump’ (Sky News)

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into two teams. Each team takes turns acting out key phrases or concepts from the article without using words, while their team guesses the term. Phrases can include “political protest,” “systematic corruption,” or “Vote Labor Out!”

– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Ask students to come up with catchy headlines summarizing the article. They can work individually or in pairs. Encourage creativity and discuss why a strong headline is important for capturing readers’ attention.

– OPINION SPECTRUM
Instructions: Create a line in the classroom labeled “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree.” Read statements related to the article, such as “Changing one’s name for political protest is effective.” Students must position themselves on the spectrum based on their opinions. Facilitate a discussion about their choices.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: In small groups, students will create a mind map that illustrates the main points of the article. The center of the map should be “Austin Trump,” branching out to themes like “Political Protest,” “Corruption,” and “Trump’s Influence.” Each group presents their mind map to the class.

– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Each student writes down two true statements and one false statement related to the article. They then share their statements with the class, and others must guess which statement is the lie. This encourages critical thinking and discussion about the content.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did Ben Dawkins change his name to Austin Trump?

2. What does Dawkins believe about the current Labor Party in Australia?

3. How has Dawkins ensured that his new name is officially recognized?

4. What is the significance of the name “Aussie Trump” on his social media accounts?

5. What did Dawkins say in his recent social media post about the Labor government?

6. How are people responding to Dawkins’ message regarding the political situation?

7. What controversial views of Donald Trump has Dawkins shared with his followers?

8. What invitation did Dawkins extend to Donald Trump in his posts?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

An Australian (1)______ has made news by changing his name to Austin (2)______. He did this to protest against the ruling (3)______ Party in Australia. Ben Dawkins, who is an independent member of the upper (4)______ of parliament in Western Australia, believes that the current government is corrupt and unfair. By choosing the name Austin Trump, he shows his admiration for former U.S. President Donald Trump and his way of discussing politics.

Dawkins has made sure that his new name is officially recognized. On the Western (5)______ parliamentary (6)______, he is now listed as “(7)______ Trump.” He has also updated his social media accounts, using the name “Hon. Aussie Trump MLC” on his X account. This change is part of his plan to (8)______ better with the people he represents and to share his political opinions more effectively.

In a recent social media post, Dawkins explained why he made this change. He said, “I’ve launched a political protest against the tyranny and systematic (9)______ of the Labor government in WA.” Many people who feel the same way about the current political situation are responding to his message. He is open to talking with both supporters and critics about these issues.

Dawkins has also shared some of Donald Trump’s more controversial (10)______, especially about (11)______ policies. In another post, he told his (12)______ to “Vote Labor Out! & Drill Baby Drill!” This phrase is (13)______ to Trump’s push for more oil and gas production in the U.S. It shows that Dawkins is inspired not just by Trump’s personality, but also by his ideas. He even invited Trump to contact him, saying, “I would love you to (14)______ out Donald, just ring the office here.” By calling himself Austin Trump, Dawkins is (15)______ a (16)______ statement and positioning himself as a voice of political change in Western Australia.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is your opinion on politicians changing their names for political reasons?

2. How would you feel if a politician in your country changed their name to protest against the government?

3. Do you think it’s effective for a politician to use a famous name to gain attention? Why or why not?

4. What is a political protest, and have you ever participated in one?

5. How do you think people in your community would react to a politician changing their name like this?

6. Do you admire any political figures? If so, who and why?

7. What is your view on using social media for political discussions?

8. How would you feel if a politician shared controversial views that you disagree with?

9. Do you think it’s important for politicians to connect with the people they represent? Why?

10. What is your opinion on the idea of “drilling for oil” as a solution to energy problems?

11. Have you ever felt strongly about a political issue? How did you express your feelings?

12. Do you think it’s a good idea for politicians to invite famous figures to connect with them? Why or why not?

13. What is a quality you think is important for a politician to have?

14. How do you feel about the idea of politicians using humor or unusual tactics to get their message across?

15. Do you think political protests can lead to real change? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. politician
2. protest
3. independent
4. parliament
5. corrupt
6. admiration
7. officially
8. recognized
9. tyranny
10. systematic
11. controversial
12. policies
13. production
14. inspired
15. positioning

Meanings:
(A) Done in an organized and planned way
(B) The process of making or creating something
(C) A group of people who make laws for a country
(D) Dishonest or unethical behavior, especially by powerful people
(E) Cruel and unfair use of power
(F) Not influenced or controlled by others; free-thinking
(G) Causing disagreement or discussion
(H) A feeling of respect and liking for someone or something
(I) Placing oneself in a particular role or situation
(J) Plans or rules made by a government or organization
(K) Known and accepted by many people
(L) An action showing disagreement or disapproval of something
(M) Motivated by someone or something to do something
(N) In a way that is accepted by authority or law
(O) A person who is involved in politics, especially as a job
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name that the Australian politician changed to?
(a) Ben Dawkins
(b) Donald Trump
(c) Labor Party
(d) Austin Trump

2. What is Ben Dawkins’ political affiliation?
(a) Labor Party
(b) Liberal Party
(c) Green Party
(d) Independent

3. What does Dawkins believe about the current government in Australia?
(a) It is corrupt and unfair
(b) It is effective and just
(c) It is too lenient
(d) It is very popular

4. How is Dawkins officially recognized on the Western Australia parliamentary website?
(a) Ben Dawkins
(b) Austin Trump
(c) Aussie Trump
(d) Hon. Ben Dawkins

5. What phrase did Dawkins use to encourage his followers regarding energy policies?
(a) Save the Environment!
(b) Vote Labor Out! & Drill Baby Drill!
(c) Change is Coming!
(d) Support Renewable Energy!

6. Who does Dawkins express admiration for through his name change?
(a) Joe Biden
(b) Barack Obama
(c) Donald Trump
(d) Scott Morrison

7. What does Dawkins aim to achieve by changing his name?
(a) Connect better with the people he represents
(b) Run for president
(c) Gain more social media followers
(d) Criticize the U.S. government

8. How did Dawkins invite Donald Trump to contact him?
(a) By sending an email
(b) By saying to ring the office
(c) By posting on social media
(d) By writing a letter

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Dawkins uses the name “Hon. Aussie Trump MLC” on his social media accounts.
2. Dawkins has denounced some of Donald Trump’s controversial views, especially regarding energy policies.
3. He invited Donald Trump to contact him directly, expressing his disdain for him.
4. An Australian politician changed his name to Austin Obama as a form of protest.
5. Dawkins believes the current Labor government in Australia is just and fair.
6. Ben Dawkins is an independent member of the upper house of parliament in Western Australia.
7. He officially updated his name on the Western Australia parliamentary website to “Aussie Trump.”
8. He launched this name change to connect better with the people he represents.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. Why did Ben Dawkins change his name to Austin Trump?
2. What does Dawkins believe about the current Labor government in Australia?
3. How has Dawkins updated his social media to reflect his new name?
4. What message did Dawkins share on social media regarding his political views?
5. How does Dawkins connect his ideas to those of Donald Trump?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why did Ben Dawkins change his name to Austin Trump?
Ben Dawkins changed his name to Austin Trump to protest against the ruling Labor Party in Australia and to show his admiration for former U.S. President Donald Trump.

2. What does Dawkins believe about the current Labor Party in Australia?
Dawkins believes that the current Labor Party is corrupt and unfair.

3. How has Dawkins ensured that his new name is officially recognized?
Dawkins has ensured that his new name is officially recognized by having it listed as “Aussie Trump” on the Western Australia parliamentary website.

4. What is the significance of the name “Aussie Trump” on his social media accounts?
The name “Aussie Trump” on his social media accounts signifies his political stance and connection to Donald Trump, as well as his intention to engage with the people he represents.

5. What did Dawkins say in his recent social media post about the Labor government?
In his recent social media post, Dawkins said he launched a political protest against the tyranny and systematic corruption of the Labor government in Western Australia.

6. How are people responding to Dawkins’ message regarding the political situation?
Many people who feel similarly about the political situation are responding positively to Dawkins’ message, showing support for his views.

7. What controversial views of Donald Trump has Dawkins shared with his followers?
Dawkins has shared some of Donald Trump’s controversial views, especially regarding energy policies, including the phrase “Vote Labor Out! & Drill Baby Drill!” which reflects Trump’s push for more oil and gas production.

8. What invitation did Dawkins extend to Donald Trump in his posts?
Dawkins invited Donald Trump to contact him, saying, “I would love you to reach out Donald, just ring the office here.”
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) politician
(2) Trump
(3) Labor
(4) house
(5) Australia
(6) website
(7) Aussie
(8) connect
(9) corruption
(10) views
(11) energy
(12) followers
(13) similar
(14) reach
(15) making
(16) strong
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. politician
Answer: (O) A person who is involved in politics, especially as a job

2. protest
Answer: (L) An action showing disagreement or disapproval of something

3. independent
Answer: (F) Not influenced or controlled by others; free-thinking

4. parliament
Answer: (C) A group of people who make laws for a country

5. corrupt
Answer: (D) Dishonest or unethical behavior, especially by powerful people

6. admiration
Answer: (H) A feeling of respect and liking for someone or something

7. officially
Answer: (N) In a way that is accepted by authority or law

8. recognized
Answer: (K) Known and accepted by many people

9. tyranny
Answer: (E) Cruel and unfair use of power

10. systematic
Answer: (A) Done in an organized and planned way

11. controversial
Answer: (G) Causing disagreement or discussion

12. policies
Answer: (J) Plans or rules made by a government or organization

13. production
Answer: (B) The process of making or creating something

14. inspired
Answer: (M) Motivated by someone or something to do something

15. positioning
Answer: (I) Placing oneself in a particular role or situation
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name that the Australian politician changed to?
Answer: (d) Austin Trump

2. What is Ben Dawkins’ political affiliation?
Answer: (d) Independent

3. What does Dawkins believe about the current government in Australia?
Answer: (a) It is corrupt and unfair

4. How is Dawkins officially recognized on the Western Australia parliamentary website?
Answer: (c) Aussie Trump

5. What phrase did Dawkins use to encourage his followers regarding energy policies?
Answer: (b) Vote Labor Out! & Drill Baby Drill!

6. Who does Dawkins express admiration for through his name change?
Answer: (c) Donald Trump

7. What does Dawkins aim to achieve by changing his name?
Answer: (a) Connect better with the people he represents

8. How did Dawkins invite Donald Trump to contact him?
Answer: (b) By saying to ring the office
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Dawkins uses the name “Hon. Aussie Trump MLC” on his social media accounts. (Answer: True)
2. Dawkins has denounced some of Donald Trump’s controversial views, especially regarding energy policies. (Answer: False)
3. He invited Donald Trump to contact him directly, expressing his disdain for him. (Answer: False)
4. An Australian politician changed his name to Austin Obama as a form of protest. (Answer: False)
5. Dawkins believes the current Labor government in Australia is just and fair. (Answer: False)
6. Ben Dawkins is an independent member of the upper house of parliament in Western Australia. (Answer: True)
7. He officially updated his name on the Western Australia parliamentary website to “Aussie Trump.” (Answer: True)
8. He launched this name change to connect better with the people he represents. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧