HAS Prime Minister Scott Morrison shown a lack of leadership by going on holidays during the rolling bushfire crisis in NSW?
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That's a question that has been debated by Australians this week after the nation's leader joined his wife and daughters on an overseas break.
A local government leader, Indigo Shire mayor Jenny O'Connor, has certainly implied Mr Morrison has been irresponsible by departing.
In a tweet she wrote of this week's heatwave and looming "frightening fire season".
"I can't leave my community even if I want to," Cr O'Connor stated.
"So #ScoMo #wherethebloodyhellareyou."
The hashtag slogan references the catchphrase used to draw visitors by Tourism Australia when Mr Morrison was its managing director in 2006.
It also hints at the secrecy surrounding Mr Morrison going on leave, with the Prime Minister's office initially being cagey about his whereabouts in contrast to the standard announcement that notes arrangements around a PM being abroad or on holidays.
After social media speculation and inquiries from journalists, Mr Morrison's office confirmed he was holidaying overseas, but declined to say where.
His absence has been compared to former Victorian police commissioner Christine Nixon dining at a hotel as the Black Saturday fires erupted.
As a budding MP in 2010 Mr Morrison appeared on the ABC's Q&A program and rightly condemned Ms Nixon for a "bad judgment call" before noting those in public life need to exercise judgment wisely.
In this case, Mr Morrison's judgment will now be queried, although it should be noted he is not a firefighter like predecessor Tony Abbott and can't provide hands-on help.
Nevertheless it was silly of the Prime Minister's office not to announce he was on holidays, leaving taxpayers to wonder why his team could not be straight-up.
When hundreds of volunteer firefighters have been slugging it out for weeks already and blazes have left communities on edge, it is understandable Mr Morrison's holiday has been a lightning rod for frustrations.
