Court fight on borders

STATE governments face a legal crunch on their border lockdowns with AttorneyGeneral Christian Porter warning the closures may be found unconstitutional.

Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer is challenging Western Australia’s border closure as damaging to trade, and Mr Porter said he may win.

“There are arguments that are going to be mounted that may well be persuasive to the High Court that the complete, uncompromising, hard border closure that exists at the moment may not be a constitutionally sustainable position,” Mr Porter said.

Legal experts said the court could rule that such restrictions were disproportionate to the public health threat.