Your lunchtime Briefing: Phelps admits Turnbull talks, staff help

Your lunchtime 2-minute digest of the top stories and must-reads.

Hello readers.

Here is your 2-minute digest of the day’s top stories so far, and a long read for lunchtime.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 20: Independent candidate, Dr Kerryn Phelps dances and celebrates winning the seat of Wentworth at the North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club on October 20, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Despite traditionally being a blue ribbon Liberal seat, Independent candidate Kerryn Phelps is considered a strong chance to beat Liberal candidate Dave Sharma. A loss for the Liberal party will put the Coalition into a minority government, and be one of the biggest by-election losses in history. The by-election was triggered after Malcolm Turnbull resigned from parliament following his defeat as Prime Minister in August. (Photo by Cole Bennetts/Getty Images)

Phelps admits Turnbull talks

Independent MP Kerryn Phelps confirms discussions with former PM Malcolm Turnbull and that more than one of his staff had assisted her.

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Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations, Minister for Women Kelly O'Dwyer during Question Time in the House of Representatives Chamber, at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Threat to O’Dwyer

Kelly O’Dwyer would lose her seat at the next federal election, a shock new poll suggests. Keep up with all the latest from parliament in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: David Warner of Randwick-Petersham and Steve Smith of Sutherland embrace at the end of the Sydney Grade Cricket One Day match between Randwick-Petersham and Sutherland at Coogee Oval on November 10, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Cricket ‘healing’

An extraordinarily honest Justin Langer opens up about relations between Steve Smith and David Warner, amid reports of a rift. Peter Lalor has the story.

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Chris Bowen speaking to the media at Parliament House in Canberra.

Fairness fail

Chris Bown has defended his franking credits plan but Robert Gottliebsen writes that it’s still a tax on battlers by any other name.

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ICAC inquirer graphic for web

The long read: Trials of a national ICAC

The powers and make-up of a national integrity commission are proving divisive in political and legal circles, writes Chris Merritt.