Australia news live updates: WA hard border to come down on 3 March; nation records 39 Covid deaths

Premier Mark McGowan announces border reopening date; Bob Katter raises concerns over gun trafficking bill; at least 39 Covid deaths recorded; PM says federal government had no power to prevent' Port of Darwin sale; ACT to ease restrictions from tonight. Follow all the day's news

• Ukraine crisis: Joe Biden accuses Russia of running false-flag operation to justify invasion - live
• Deeply concerning': British government picks Alexander Downer to review UK's border force
• Queensland premier orders review into ethics of public service decision-making
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Deputy opposition leader Richard Marles was on Today earlier alongside Peter Dutton, discussing Ukraine and the week in parliament.

Karl Stefanovic:

Richard ... it's been a big week. The PM labelled you in parliament the Manchurian candidate, you little Chinese spy, you, hey?

(Laughs) Well, obviously not. But I think tossing around patriotism in that way and using it as a political football, I mean ... I'm not particularly hurt by it but it does pay quite a disrespect, I think, to those men and women who we ask to put on a uniform each and every day and to literally put their lives on the line for that very concept.

These are really encouraging numbers and yes, of course, hours worked were down to the Omicron shock and the fact that more people have been getting more jobs. We can expect things to ramp up very quickly as we get the lifting of restrictions, the opening of international borders and get back to normal.

We've already got the borders open to those skilled moderate workers and backpackers ... this is all about making sure we get more jobs back, maintain the growth and get that 4.8% figure potentially even down to a number starting with three.