Well, you have “bad optics,” and then you have this.

Australia is enduring some of its worst wildfires in recorded history as the blistering summer heat is taking its toll Down Under. Where was the country’s prime minister, Scott Morrison?

He was vacationing in Hawaii with his family while firefighters were risking their lives, while scores of homes were being destroyed and while several Australians have died as a result of the flames.

Not surprisingly, news of Morrison’s whereabouts has gone over badly among Australians. The media have torched the PM over his extremely poor timing to vacation with his wife and children.

To make matters worse, Morrison’s staff denied initially he was vacationing in Hawaii. Then pictures emerged showing the Morrisons doing exactly that. Busted!

OK, the prime minister has apologized. He said in hindsight he would have made a different choice. It’s not clear whether the Australian public is going to accept the PM’s apology.

I have some friends Down Under who are likely to be pretty steamed over the prime minister’s initial decision.

Still, it’s time for the prime minister to get back to work and start acting like someone who cares that his country is burning. That’s what leaders are supposed to do.