In the hours after the incident, Mr Abbott was the most strident voice among world leaders when he called the disaster a crime.

He was not afraid to suggest that Russia was culpable and he was quick to act, together with foreign minister Julie Bishop, through the UN to try to get protection for the crash site so that a thorough investigation of the cause could be undertaken.

Mr Abbott knows that as the nation’s leader this is his “Bali bomb’’ moment. With 37 Australian residents and citizens among the dead, Mr Abbott must satisfy Australians that he is doing what must be done while at the same time keeping a close eye on international relations.

On that count, it remains to be seen whether Russian leader Vladimir Putin will attend the G20 summit in Brisbane in November.

There are many senior politicians, including Victorian Premier Denis Napthine, who think that it would be a travesty if Mr Putin were to be present.

But would excluding Mr Putin solve anything? 

Whether we like it or not, the contribution Mr Putin can make to the geopolitical landscape is of more long-term significance than G20 leaders — led by host nation Australia — issuing a largely symbolic slap on the wrist.

At home, Mr Abbott’s focus is rightly on being seen to support the grieving families of those Australians who lost their lives.

Now that pro-Russian rebels have allowed access to the crash site and bodies have been removed and are on their way to the Netherlands where they will be formally identified, Mr Abbott said that he would support the families in every way possible.

It is the kind of rhetoric the nation likes to hear from its leader — strong, decisive and sympathetic without grandstanding for political purposes.

Like everyone else, Mr Abbott would have preferred that the MH17 catastrophe had never happened, but at times like these political leaders can show their true worth.

And so far Mr Abbott has passed the test with flying colours.