State border closures found legally valid
State premiers with strict border controls have been vindicated by a significant High Court decision.
The full bench has rejected mining billionaire Clive Palmer's challenge against Western Australia's border ban, finding both the health directions and emergency laws to be valid.
Mr Palmer will have to pay costs.
The decision will be sweet relief for the Queensland and West Australian governments, who are facing immense pressure over their border restrictions.
The main political pressure point will come when NSW opens its borders to Victoria on November 23.
Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles said it was a welcome development.
"That is ultimately what we need to see," he told the Nine Network on Friday.
"And obviously, we need to get to a point where there are no internal borders in the country."
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is furious the Queensland government is still not allowing Sydney residents to enter the Sunshine State.
"There is no medical advice to the Queensland government to keep the border closed with NSW," he said.
"It's a complete absurdity."
Tasmania reinstated travel ties with NSW on Friday.
WA is due to reopen to all jurisdictions except NSW and Victoria on November 14.
Queensland is expected to make further announcements on border rules at the end of the month.
The High Court is also poised to hear a separate constitutional case related to coronavirus restrictions.
A Melbourne man is challenging Victoria's strict lockdown measures, which lifted last week.
Victoria has recorded seven straight days of no new coronavirus cases or deaths.
The state has also confirmed there are no more active cases in its aged care system, marking a significant achievement after the sector bore the brunt of Victoria's second virus outbreak.
The last active case was cleared on Wednesday afternoon, the first time since June 15 the sector was virus free.
Of Victoria's 819 coronavirus deaths, more than 650 are related to aged care.
On Thursday, the national incident centre confirmed Australia had again recorded a zero community transmission day.
The milestone came as the world recorded its second highest daily global case numbers, and the highest daily death toll.
