Unfortunately, in stark contrast to those two iconic figures, he has fallen well short of the mark.

The latest proof Mr Morrison has not lived up to the standards set by former Prime Ministers in times of national crisis was his misguided decision to use an RAAF aircraft to fly to Sydney for the Father's Day weekend when millions of Australians were in hard lockdown.

While, as he has pointed out, this was within the remit of his travel permit not even his most ardent supporters could say this would pass the famous "pub test". Critics have even gone so far as to suggest that despite his marketing background the PM has a "tin ear".

That comment has been made before. Previous instances include the ill-fated trip to Hawaii and his subsequent "I don't hold a hose mate" comment, saying he intended to take in a football game on the eve of the first national lockdown, and remarking that the thousands of women who protested against gendered violence outside Parliament House were fortunate to live in a country where such actions did not result in their being shot.

While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with Mr Morrison wanting to spend time with the family he is clearly devoted to on Father's Day that is not the issue here.

The question is whether or not it was appropriate to use a permit issued to facilitate the business of governing the country to exercise a private privilege.

A more reflective individual would surely have taken the great sacrifices this government has called on all Australians to make during the pandemic into account.

The past 18 months have been amongst the most brutal and cruel in the history of the nation.

There are people who haven't been able to see family members in other states or countries since the pandemic began, people who haven't been able to spend time with dying loved ones because of border closures and lockdowns, couples who have been forced to postpone weddings on multiple occasions and mourners who have not been able to attend funerals.

It is well documented that lockdowns have led to "shadow epidemics" of domestic violence and mental illness. Tens of thousands of people are struggling to keep it together day after day.

Australia has long prided itself on being an egalitarian country. What is good enough for "the rest of us" should be good enough for the "best" of us.

The late Queen Mother set the bar high when in 1939 it was suggested the princesses Margaret and Elizabeth be sent to Canada to guarantee their safety. She quickly knocked the idea on the head saying: "The children won't go without me. I won't leave without the King and the King will never leave."

This was the same woman who, after Buckingham Palace was bombed, said: "I'm glad we've been bombed. It makes me feel I can look the East End in the face".

Mr Morrison is the person who chose to become a FIFO worker by not making the taxpayer-funded The Lodge his family's principal residence.

As a consequence of that choice he, like millions of other Australians, has had to experience long separations from his family.

A more empathetic leader would surely have chosen to share the hardships his government's decisions have inflicted on millions, admittedly in the national interest, rather than signing his own ticket of leave.