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Australian mortgage costs hit levels not seen in over four decades
Australian households are cutting back on groceries as mortgage payments reach their highest burden since the 1980s, squeezing family budgets across the country.
Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger on this story, from Wake Up, America at 5:49 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are News.com.au's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by News.com.au: “Mortgage ‘burden’ not seen since 1980s”.
- Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 5:49 AM ET on Wake Up, America, by Hank Ledger.
- Topics: Australian.
- BBN covered this story before: Why did Man City fans bring 1,000 balloon BANANAS to Anfield? (October 11).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- News.com.auMortgage ‘burden’ not seen since 1980s
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAustralian mortgage costs have climbed to levels not seen in more than forty years, and households are feeling the squeeze.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTobias Wrenfield is a celebrity publicist who says he can fix the image. Tobias, how?
Tobias WrenfieldHank, great to be here. Nobody's squeezed, they're committed. Carrying a giant mortgage is purely a lifestyle choice, like cold plunges, but with a bank.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorPeople are cutting back on groceries. That doesn't sound like a plunge. It sounds like a drain.
Tobias WrenfieldToast for dinner is a cleanse, Hank. Purely a lifestyle choice. My clients call it the Slice Reset, and it's booked through spring.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe Slice Reset.
Tobias WrenfieldAnd when families sell the second car, that's minimalism. Purely a lifestyle choice. I sold mine first, actually, years ago. Long before the boat.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLet's talk about the boat. You're on a yacht while telling people to eat toast. Whose is it?
Tobias WrenfieldMine, fully, in spirit. Excuse me, I'm just checking the menu. It says here, payment overdue, three months, and a very polite threat.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat's a loan statement, Tobias. It's laminated.
Tobias WrenfieldIt's a menu, Hank. The bank's special is my yacht. Purely a lifestyle choice, and I'm told it's the catch of the day.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo the boat is the final stage of your minimalism journey.
Tobias WrenfieldExactly. Hank, why is a tugboat attaching a rope to us? Is that part of the package?

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat's the bank, and it's towing you to shore. Thanks for the view, Tobias.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorRex, I hear you have a team that also refuses to admit it's losing.
More Shorts
All videos →The story so far
- Why did Man City fans bring 1,000 balloon BANANAS to Anfield? · The Times of India
- Australian mortgage costs hit levels not seen in over four decades (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Monday, October 12, 2026 · the Your Money archive · all months




