Investigations continue into the infection of a hotel worker in Melbourne as Western Australia prepares to lift its lockdown.

Clinics that waste an unacceptable amount of ‘precious’ COVID-19 vaccine doses could lose their authorisation to vaccinate people, as health experts flagged the multidose vials as a concern.

A police officer charged with sending text messages that contained information about a former AFL coach under arrest has been spared a first appearance before court.

Debbie Ann Mauger, 57, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft on Friday.

The Reserve Bank’s first forecasts for the year point to a stronger economy heavily dependent on households spending the money they’ve saved in the pandemic.