Your noon Briefing: I’m a safe pair of hands, says Phelps

Welcome to your noon digest of what’s been making news and what to watch for.

Hello readers. Here is your noon digest of today’s top stories.

Independent candidate in the Wentworth by-election, Kerryn Phelps, at pre-polling at Waverly Oval today. Picture: Dylan Robinson

‘Safe hands’

Kerryn Phelps has toned down her message that she wouldn’t rule out supporting a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Scott Morrison should she be elected at Saturday’s byelection in Wentworth. Responding to a question on Sky News this morning about an interview she gave last night, the independent said she had “no intention of bringing the government down”. Keep up with the latest from parliament in our live blog, PoliticsNow.

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Professor Gillian Triggs on the ABC's Q & A program. Monday 4 December 2017. Source: ABChttps://www.facebook.com/abcqanda/videos/10154866953856831/

Triggs flips

Former president of the Human Rights Council Gillian Triggs has backflipped on her opposition to the federal government’s policy on asylum seekers, coming out in support of the proposed lifetime ban on refugees from Manus Island and Nauru entering Australia if they were resettled in New Zealand.

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Dennis Shanahan says Scott Morrison isn't dead yet.

Could be worse

Facing a by-election test in the Sydney seat of Wentworth on Saturday that could remove the ­Coalition’s majority, Scott Morrison is in a dire fight for electoral survival. But for all the poor polling, the Prime Minister is in a better personal position in the polls seven months from an election than Paul Keating, John Howard (twice) and Tony Abbott when they pulled off victories against expectations.

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 19: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex pose with Grant Trebilco and Sam Schumacher, founder and co-founder of OneWave, a local surfing community group raising awareness for mental health and wellbeing and their members on Bondi Beach on October 19, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Good vibrations

Barefoot and sporting floral leis as they kicked off the fourth day of their visit to Australia, a casual Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spent a laid back morning at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined an “anti bad vibe circle” on the famous strip of sand with mental health charity OneWave, and shook hands, accepted baby gifts, and spoke briefly to many of those lined up on the beach.