Morning Mail: ‘Our gas, our prices’ says Husic, mortgage squeeze tightens, Italy divided over ‘off-grid’ family

Morning everyone. Ed Husic, sacked from Labor’s ministerial team, continues to make the most of his freedom to speak his mind with a stinging attack on “profiteering” by gas companies and a plea for Australia to set its own prices for “our gas”.
Elsewhere, Australian households are being squeezed by higher interest rates, Ukraine has won significant amendments to the Russia-US peace plan, and a court in Italy has ruled that three children being raised off-grid by their Australian mother should be taken into care.
Plus: can intercity bus travel become cool again?
Australia

Mortgage squeeze | The average Australian household is spending nearly twice as much of their income on servicing their mortgage than they did five years ago, according to a new report. The average increase is 45%, and in Sydney it takes 68% of income to keep up with a mortgage.
Energy plea | Ed Husic has demanded strong action to end “profiteering” among gas exporters and to force them to sell cheaper fuel for Australian use, as the former industry minister broke ranks with his Labor colleagues to support an independent MP’s motion regarding energy prices on the east coast.
Buyers’ remorse | More than half (53%) of Australians have regretted a purchase or had a negative experience during Black Friday sales, a Choice survey has found. In the US activists are promoting a Black Friday boycott.
Music prize | Australian hardcore band Speed has won the inaugural $80,000 New South Wales Music prize, a new award aiming to support musicians in the face of global streaming algorithms.
‘Going broke’ | Not-for-profit disability services are being forced to close and exit the national disability insurance scheme because of untenably low price caps for NDIS services, one of the architects of the scheme has warned.

World

‘Terrible situation’ | The decision by an Italian court to take three children being brought up in the woods away from their parents – Catherine Birmingham from Melbourne and Briton Nathan Trevallion (pictured) – has sparked a fierce debate in the country over alternative lifestyles, with even the prime minister weighing in.
Ukraine ‘amendments’ | Ukraine has significantly amended the US “peace plan” for Ukraine, removing some of Russia’s maximalist demands.
US ‘hogwash’ | Venezuela has accused the US of peddling “ridiculous hogwash” about its supposed role in sponsoring “narco-terrorism”, as Washington continues to turn up the heat on Nicolás Maduro’s regime amid continued US attacks on alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean. Check out our visual guide to the standoff here.
Cases dismissed | A federal judge has thrown out the criminal cases against Trump critics James Comey and Letitia James, concluding that the prosecutor handling the case was unlawfully appointed. A trove of emails released as part of a defamation case against Fox News has revealed tensions between the network’s boss, Lachlan Murdoch, and Donald Trump in the lead up to the 2020 election.
Final bow | Jill Freud, the British actor who starred in Love Actually, inspired the character of Lucy in CS Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and was Elisabeth Murdoch’s mother-in-law, has died aged 98.

Full Story
Why did the BoM website cost a bomb?
Technology reporter Josh Taylor tells Nour Haydar how and why the Bureau of Meteorology spent nearly $100m on redesigning its website.

In-depth
The European budget travel brand FlixBus has arrived in Australia promising its distinctive lime-green buses will make the “coach cool again”. Passengers can now travel between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne for as little as $10. After taking a trip to the capital from Sydney, Luca Ittamani thinks Flix has “work to do” to tempt people out of cars and planes, but finds company bosses in an upbeat mood.
Not the news
One person’s pile of trash can be another person’s work of art, not least for the Egyptian-Australian artist Hany Armanious whose remodelling of everyday detritus is now exhibiting at the Buxton Contemporary in Melbourne. Oliver Giles considers whether it’s rubbish or not.
Sport

Cricket | England have risked more criticism from disgruntled supporters after confirmation that none of the players who collapsed to the shattering two-day defeat in the first Ashes Test will play in the pink-ball match arranged for the tourists in Canberra starting on Saturday. Meanwhile Geoff Lemon ponders Australian selectors’ dilemma.
Formula One | Our F1 correspondent asks how McLaren got it so wrong with their cars in Las Vegas to leave Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris with an even more nerve-shredding end to the season.
Football | Manchester United host Everton in the Premier League this morning. Follow it live.

Media roundup
Avalon air show crash pilot Glenn Collins is a “full paraplegic” but is finally going home after eight months in hospital, the Geelong Advertiser reports. A young fisherman has defended himself against online criticism after he was attacked by a crocodile, according to the Cairns Post. Einstein, a 12-year-old Maltese cross, has been reunited with his tearful owners seven weeks after going missing in the bush, the Adelaide Advertiser reports.
What’s happening today

Transport | Ausrail conference in Melbourne.
Energy | Committee for Economic Development of Australia discussion on the national electricity review led by Assoc Prof Tim Nelson.

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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.

Quick crossword
Cryptic crossword