Scott Morrison has insulted an entire state after using a bizarre analogy likening Western Australia to cavemen due to the region's hard-line border restrictions.
The prime minister was discussing Covid vaccination rates on the Today show on Tuesday when he said it was 'absurd' any state could think it could protect itself from the Delta strain forever.
'Now it’s like that movie The Croods,' he told host Karl Stefanovic on Tuesday, in reference to the DreamWorks children’s film about cavemen.
'Some wanted to stay in the cave and the young girl wanted to deal with the challenges of living in a different world. Covid is a different world and we need to get out and live in it.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Today host Karl Stefanovic states need to 'get out of the cave' and open up borders
'We can't stay in the cave.'
WA Premier Mark McGowan hit back, telling reporters just hours later Mr Morrison's comments were 'an odd thing to say'.
'We are not in lockdown, we are the freest community anywhere in Australia, perhaps anywhere in the world. We don’t have any restrictions,' he said.
'Sometimes people are too focused on where they are and they don’t realise that outside of NSW it’s a very different situation. Australia is bigger than just NSW.
'We are not living in caves — we are living a normal life.'
The war of words came after Mr Morrison warned ongoing lockdowns will cause more harm than benefit when coronavirus vaccination coverages reaches 70 per cent.
The prime minister insisted high case numbers will not derail a national plan despite some states warning Doherty Institute modelling needs updating.
Under the agreement, lockdowns will be less likely at 70 per cent and become highly targeted at 80 per cent.
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan hit back, telling reporters Mr Morrison's reference was 'an odd thing to say'
Mr Morrison said negative economic and mental health impacts would outweigh benefits when 70 and 80 per cent immunisation coverage is reached.
'That's the advice, that's the basis for the plan. We've all signed up to it, we need to get on with it,' he told the Seven Network.
Mr McGowan wants new modelling given high levels of virus circulating in NSW which reported 753 new local cases on Tuesday.
Victoria is having a hard time getting on top of an outbreak with another 50 new cases, while the ACT had its worst daily rise since the start of the pandemic with 30 new infections.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk argues the initial research was based on having 30 cases in the community.
The Doherty Institute will provide updated advice to national cabinet on
