Nation records highest death toll for the pandemic following grim two weeks of rising numbers – as it happened

Twitter apologises to politicians who experienced abuse on the platform; Pauline Hanson calls for royal commission into Covid response; Australia records its deadliest day of the pandemic with 88 deaths; AFP begins investigations into RAT price gouging; If not now, when?' asks Frydenberg on WA border. This blog is now closed

• WA suspends border reopening indefinitely amid Omicron spread
• Omicron wave has likely peaked in NSW and Victoria, some experts say
• Free rapid tests won't be available for millions, Australian pharmacists warn
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The West Australian paper certainly isn't mincing words with their views on the indefinite border closure this morning.

The Australian federal police have launched an investigation into price gouging rapid antigen tests, warning people that re-selling them for more than 20 per cent of the original retail purchase price" is a crime punishable with up to five years in prison.

Two investigations have begun in Queensland and NSW after referrals from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

More referrals are expected and will be coordinated under the AFP's Taskforce LOTUS, which was established in 2021 as a targeted and scalable response to potential criminal threats to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.