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Clive Palmer's defamation lawsuit against the WA premier set to begin next week has been delayed, but Mark McGowan will have to attend in person when he takes the stand.
It comes after an application for Mr McGowan and Attorney-General John Quigley to give evidence remotely after the extension of the state's hard border measures.
Alternatively, Justice Michael Lee was asked to delay the start of the trial.
Mark McGowan will have to attend court in person in NSW for the Clive Palmer defamation proceedings.
Mr Palmer is suing the Mr McGowan in the Federal Court claiming public comments, including labelling him the 'enemy of West Australia', had damaged the businessman's reputation.
The premier has lodged a counter-claim claiming the billionaire defamed him in several interviews.
During an urgent interlocutory hearing on Wednesday Justice Michael Lee agreed to delay the trial - due to start on Monday - until February 14.
But he insisted Mr McGowan appear in person from February 26 to 28 to give evidence.
Justice Lee earlier described video-link hearings as 'suboptimal', stressing his 'firm preference' for litigants, particularly the parties and in defamation cases, was to give evidence in person.
'I want to go back to having trials in the usual way,' he said.
Mr McGowan told the court he would be able to self-quarantine on his return to WA, but had Parliament sitting days, national cabinet and other meetings with some best attended in person.
He could be permitted to attend
