So when a story surfaced earlier this week confirming Prime Minister Scott Morrison had gone on leave with his family and flown overseas, a lot of Australians were surprised, upset, confused and angry.

To them, it sent a bad message to communities that are doing it extremely tough at the moment that the PM had opted for time with his family over the nation.

No doubt the Prime Minister's supporters would argue otherwise, and insist after a torrid year that included a spectacular against the odds win at May's federal election, he deserves a break.

Fair enough - perhaps.

Now, it seems the detractors have won out and the Prime Minister has now issued a statement confirming he is winging his way back to Australia and to the complex challenges posed by the dreadful fires burning out of control across much of our parched continent, and the ongoing and seemingly never ending drought.

Neither of these look like becoming non-events until the heavens open up and steady, soaking rains replace the flames, smoke and dust that have percolated along the eastern seaboard, and more recently into our part of the world.

Scott Morrison won't solve these problems on his own.

He is effectively powerless to do so, but he needs to be here.

He needs to make sure absolutely everything that can be done, is being done, on all fronts.

Affected communities have been crying out for the leadership that's been missing at the highest levels throughout this ongoing crisis, and the dynamics of the situation mean the PM should be here.

Whether or not Mr Morrison's early return is an admission he got it wrong is for others to decide.

What's more important is that he takes the time to speak to fire and emergency chiefs, to firefighters and to people in communities most impacted and listen to what they say.

Ask how he/ we can support them, and show he cares as much for his fellow Australians as the rest of us.