RUSH HOUR: The stories you need to know today

JACQUI Lambie called on to prove that she is in fact Aboriginal by other descendants of the Mannalargenna tribe.

Good morning, and welcome to our morning news coverage. We will be bringing you the best of what’s happening this morning, so you can get across the news quickly.

10am

That’s it for our live #RUSHHOUR news blog. You can get acress the stories you need to know today below or go to news.com.au for the latest headlines.

9.45am

Gable Tostee’s face and body were a mess of scratches and marks after a night of violent and kinky sex and a scuffle with New Zealand tourist Warriena Wright, court documents reveal.

According to documents filed during the Gold Coast playboy’s bail hearing at Brisbane Supreme Court yesterday, he had scratches and red marks on his face, back, neck, hand and leg.

Covered in scratches: Gable Tostee.

Tostee was charged with murder on August 15, a week after Ms Wright fell 14 floors to her death.

His bail application was yesterday adjourned. Justice Debra Mullins also commented that a murder charge would be hard to prove considering Tostee did not appear to have been on the balcony at the time Ms Wright fell.

9.40am

Congestion remains bad on the Gateway Motorway in Brisbane after a peak hour crash that saw traffic backed up for 15km.

9.20am

Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambie is being called on to prove that she is in fact Aboriginal by other descendants of the Mannalargenna tribe.

According to The Mercury, community elder Clyde Mansell said he was shocked when Senator Lambie used her maiden speech last week to ­announce her family was related to Mannalargenna, the chief of the Ben Lomond tribe in the 1700 and 1800s.

Related? Aboriginal community leader questions Jacqui Lambie’s claim that she is a descendant of his tribe.

“That’s my family line and people who are acknowledged descendants of Mannalar­genna don’t know anything about this claim and we’re a community where everybody knows everybody and we’re a very proud group of people,” said Mr Mansell, who is chairman of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania.

He called on Senator Lambie to produce evidence.

9am

Taylor Swift has given her fans an interesting insight into her home life.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, the singer shows off her new apartment in New York, reportedly worth $15 million.

Inside the heavily guarded home, there is a fish tank filled with vintage baseballs, which Swift loves, saying “I was like, ‘that’s so cool, they’re so old’,”.

There is a room devoted to one of her new best friends, supermodel Karlie Kloss and a rack full of white nightgowns.

“That’s a thing me and Lena (Dunham) have,” she says. “We wear them during the day and look like pioneer women, fresh off the Oregon Trail”.

Likes to dress as a pioneer woman at home: Taylor Swift’s more glamorous side at the MTV Video Music Awards. Photo: Matt Sayles/Invision/AP

Swift says she loves living in New York so much she is trying to get her friends, such as Selena Gomez, to move there too. “Project Selena, I think I can do it.”

8.35am

Air crash investigators in the Netherlands will release a preliminary report today into the downing of MH17 in July.

The Dutch Safety Board (DSB), which is leading the investigation into the disaster says the report will present factual information based on the sources available.

Search for answers: The wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 two days after it crashed in a sunflower field in east Ukraine. AFP PHOTO / DOMINIQUE FAGET

8.05am

It’s official: Prince William’s wife Kate is expecting their second child.

Kensington Palace announced the news and also confirmed that the 32-year-old had again been suffering from severe morning sickness. It may be weeks before she is well enough to attend public engagements.

A new addition to the family: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is expecting again. She is pictured with first child Prince George and husband Prince William. Photo by John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images

7.40am

Outspoken Palmer United Party Senator Jacqui Lambie has said she would be an “absolute fool” to walk away from the Palmer United Party.

In an interview on Sky News this morning, Ms Lambie said she needed to retain the balance of power if she wanted to achieve a Royal Commission into sexual abuse in the defence force and veterans affairs, as well as benefits to “My Tasmania”.

She also backed the Abbott Government’s position on Iraq saying “I think we are doing the right thing”.

But she said she did want to see “any more lies coming out of the Liberal Party” after reports that the Coalition may back away from its election promise to build new submarines in Adelaide.

Jacqui Lambie on the ABC's Australian Story. PIC MARC ROBERTSON.

Last night, Ms Lambie opened up about her struggles as a single mother, her battle with addiction and a suicide attempt in an episode of ABC’s Australian Story.

When asked about her comments in the show that Clive Palmer needed to stop clowning around, Ms Lambie explained that the footage was recorded in her first few days at parliament and that everyone in the party had now calmed down quite significantly and were working effectively together.

7.20am

Traces of petrol have been found at the scene of the devastating Rozelle blast and blaze which claimed the lives of three people, including a mother and her baby.

Senior police have told The Daily Telegraph investigators are treating the fire in Sydney’s inner west as a suspected arson attack after traces of the accelerant were discovered at the Darling St convenience store. It blew up early last Thursday bringing down the building and the units housed in it.

If proven, the perpetrator could face three counts of murder or manslaughter.

The destroyed building where three people were killed. Picture: NSW Fire & Rescue

7am

The Colossus rollercoaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain caught on fire in the US but has now been extinguished.

The ride was closed at the time as it was undergoing work to update it.

#BREAKING: #Colossus ride at #MagicMountain on fire. pic.twitter.com/bP0XtcEcIf LIVE VIDEO: http://t.co/BLe5shsRYA

— FOX 10 Phoenix (@FOX10Phoenix) September 8, 2014

6.35am

The coalition’s primary vote has dropped again to 39 per cent, the latest Newspoll shows.

Tony Abbott’s Government has marked one year in government with a vote more than six points lower than when it came to power. The previous results had its primary vote at 40 per cent.

The poll, published in The Australian, also reveals one in four voters don’t want Mr Abbott or Bill Shorten as prime minister, and would give their first preference to the Greens, independents or a minor party.

Still unpopular: Tony Abbott. AFP PHOTO / MOHD RASFAN

The ALP’s primary vote is lower than the coalition’s at 35 per cent, but Labor leads in two-party-preferred terms by 52 to 48 per cent.

Meanwhile, a separate Newspoll of 1207 people, shows 62 per cent of Australians are in favour of the federal government providing humanitarian aid and weapons to forces opposing Islamic State militants.

6.15am

Cronulla Sharks players were spotted during Mad Monday celebrations with two women who appeared to be topless waitresses at a bar in Coogee.

Topless waitress at Sharks Mad Monday celebrations with Too Rude sign.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Todd Carney was also spotted with his former teammates at the Sauce Wine Bar unwinding after a year of controversy.

The women were seen chatting with the Sharks and clearing up an outside table as the players sipped on Coronas.

Enjoying a night out at Sauce wine bar. Picture: Craig Greenhill

Topless waitress cleans up.