A Federal Court judge has ordered WA Premier Mark McGowan and Clive Palmer to each pay damages after finding they defamed each other without a valid defence.
Western Australia faces a peak of 430 hospitalisations and 43 people in intensive care at the peak of its Omicron wave, according to independent modelling.
A legal stoush between Clive Palmer and WA Premier Mark McGowan over defamation claims has been delayed, but both men have to attend court in NSW in person.
Karen and Mike Malherbe were supposed to move to Western Australia when borders opened next month but now face being homeless after the premier backflipped.
Western Australia's hard borders will remain in place indefinitely after Premier Mark McGowan backflipped on plans to implement a COVID-19 transition plan.