Your noon Briefing: Crossbench? ‘I don’t care’ says Shorten.

Your 2-minute digest of the day’s top stories.

Hello readers. Parties are concerned by the volume of early voters, and Rush trial ‘Witness X’ named.

09/05/19 Independent Julia Banks hands out flyers in Rosebud. Voters showing up for pre-poll voting at Rosebud in the federal seat of Flinders. Aaron Francis/The Australian

Crossbench? ‘I don’t care’

Bill Shorten has dismissed the crossbench when asked what he’d do if the Senate blocked his tax-raising measures. Meantime, about 1.4m peopl­e have already cast their ballot, keeping candidates busy handing out how-to-vote cards. Keep up with all the latest from the campaign trail in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

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A screen-grab taken from the ABC's 7:30 program on Monday, December 17, 2018, of actor Yael Stone as she is interview during a segment which went to air on Monday, December 17,2018. (AAP Image/Supplied by ABC) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY NO ARCHIVING AAP IMAGE BEYOND 48 HOUR NEWS USAGE

Rush ‘Witness X’ named

The mystery witness barred from the Geoffrey Rush defamation trial can now be identified.

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Israel Folau and his controversial social media post.

Inside Izzy’s hearing

An unrepentant Israel Folau was given numerous opportunities to save his rugby career but refused.

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Minister for Skills and Vocational Education Senator Michaelia Cash and Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch make an apprentice subisty announcement at the Fynn Hotel construction site on the Cairns Esplanade. Picture: PETER CARRUTHERS

Preferences vital in Leichhardt

If Labor takes Leichhardt, Bill and Chloe Shorten might as well start measuring up the drapes to The Lodge, writes Sid Maher.

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Australian Transport Safety Bureau officers inspect the wing of a Flight Training Adelaide Socata TB-10 aircraft at Parafield Airport, Wednesday, July 12, 2017. The aircraft made an emergency landing after reportedly hitting a drone. (AAP Image/Brenton Edwards)

Pilot asleep on flight

A plane flew into controlled airspace as a sleep-deprived trainee pilot slept for 40 minutes.